Ireland – Mass vaccinations begin tomorrow

www.irishtimes.com

Health workers across the State will begin a mass vaccination of the people most at risk from swine flu from tomorrow morning.

Stocks of the vaccine have been delivered to more than 2,300 GPs over the past 10 days.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said 45 clinics will also be administering the inoculation free of charge to patients in high-risk categories.

“This free vaccine offers protection from swine flu and is the best defence we have against the pandemic,” a spokeswoman said.

Last week, the HSE said the number of new swine flu cases was surging, with the highest infection rates among schoolchildren.

More than 100 people stricken with the H1N1 virus were in hospital, with 23 in intensive care. So far, 10 people with the condition have died, including a teenage boy.

The HSE said everybody will be offered the vaccine but urged those who were considered high-risk to go their doctor or a participating clinic immediately.

“This is because supplies of vaccine are limited, and it’s important that this limited resource goes, in the first instance, to those most at risk from this flu,” the spokeswoman said.

High-risk categories include: Pregnant women, from 14 weeks into their pregnancy to six weeks after giving birth; Anyone aged between six months and 65 years who has long-term lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease; Anyone aged over six months and under 65 years whose immune system is being affected by medical treatment, who have haemoglobinopathies, diabetes, or who are morbidly obese.

The HSE said people older than 65 years appear to have some immunity to the H1N1 strain and are not considered high-risk. Read more…

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