Swine flu vaccine arrives next week but still faces safety test
The first 30,000 doses of swine flu vaccine will arrive here next week -- but they cannot be used until October, when European safety tests on the drug will be completed.
It comes after a fall in the rate of swine flu infection -- down to 1,500 cases compared with 1,800 the previous week.
More supplies of the vaccine, from the multinational heathcare company Baxter Healthcare are expected in the coming weeks and the main groups earmarked for protection -- healthcare workers and people under 65 years with medical conditions -- will be first to receive the injections in mid- to late October.
Hospital
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said four people with swine flu remained in intensive care and 21 people in total were still in hospital. The rate of swine flu had remained at a sustained low level at and there were no signs of an upsurge, he added. However, the expectation was that a second wave would emerge during the autumn and winter as temperatures fell and more people became vulnerable to the virus.
Since the alert began in April, 75 people here have been hospitalised with swine flu and two have died. Nearly half have had conditions such as heart disease, chronic liver disease, asthma, diabetes or were pregnant. Three were infants under a year old.
The first doses of swine flu have also been delivered to the UK and France while Glaxo Smithkline -- the second company contracted to supply Ireland -- will deliver its first supplies here at the end of September.
Ireland has ordered 7.7 million doses of flu vaccine and the hope is nearly half-a-million doses will be here by October, when it will be offered to 80,000 health staff and 400,000 people with conditions such as cancer, heart disease and asthma between the ages of six months to 65 years.
People over the age of 65 who have medical conditions are excluded from the first line of vaccination because the flu has mainly affected younger people.
Asked for advice on the safety measures needed as children return to school, Dr Kevin Kelleher, head of health protection, said the main message was to keep children and teachers informed of etiquette around sneezing and disposal of tissues as well as handwashing.
There should also be as much cleaning of hard surfaces and table tops as possible and the Department of Education has written to schools about these precautions. If schools have concerns, they should contact their local public health department.
Children
The latest report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre said in the week to last Sunday, five cases were reported in children under four; seven in the 5-14 year age group; 59 among 15-64 year olds; and one case in a person over 65 years.
Of the 713 laboratory confirmed cases so far, the average age of those who got the flu was 21 years while 80pc were under 35. The highest rates last week were in the north west and south of the country.
Swine flu continues to be mild in most cases. Among those who suffered complications, 18 developed pneumonia; six had acute respiratory illness; while others had chest infections, acute kidney failure and organ failure.
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
