Summer clinics to clear TB jab backlog
Friday June 27 2008
Schoolchildren who missed out on getting the jab to protect them against TB will have to attend summer clinics instead, it emerged yesterday.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) in the West confirmed that if all children are not vaccinated before the school holidays, they will be called to a summer clinic.
A backlog has built up in Galway because supplies of the BCG vaccine suddenly stopped last September, due to a problem with the manufacturing plant in Denmark. "This was a Europe-wide problem and not confined to the Republic of Ireland. The problem was finally resolved last month," a HSE spokesperson said.
"In the event that not all children are vaccinated before the school holidays begin, we will call them to a clinic during the summer."
Earlier, Fine Gael Senator Fidelma Healy Eames said that, despite assurances sixth class children in Galway would be vaccinated against TB, this has not occurred.
"According to contacts with medical officers, the school BCG programme has not even begun in some schools across Galway."
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
