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Flu rates increase as jab campaign begins
[Posted: Thu 29/10/2009 by Niall Hunter, Editor]
(For the latest news updates on swine flu see 'Swine Flu Watch' on the irishhealth.com homepage)
The intensification in the rate of swine flu in Ireland is continuing as HSE officially launches its vaccination campaign against H1N1 infection this week.
The latest statistics provided by the HSE and Department of Health show that the current overall rate of swine flu in the community is 210 per 100,000, compared to last week's rate of nearly 159 per 100,000. This is another large increase in incidence, although not quite as big as last week's reported rise.
The highest rates of infection continues to be among children. Among five- to 14-year-olds, infection rates are at 596 cases per 100,000, up from 448 cases last week.
Among under-fives the rate is now 354 cases per 100,000, up from 239 the previous week.
There are currently 109 people in hospital this week and there have been a total of 492 hospitalisations to date. This time last week, there were 71 people in hospital with swine flu. Currently, 23 people are in ICUs with H1N1 infection.
The health authorities say 42% of patients admitted to hospital to darte have underlying medical conditions.
At this stage, there have been no further deaths since the 10th death on Tuesday. The HSE says all the people who have died to date have had an underlying medical condition.
At the latest press briefing, Department of Health Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said that from now on, swine flu deaths occurring would be announced on a cumulative weekly basis. Up to now, each death has been announced as it has been confirmed.
The HSE, which has been criticised recently over the manner in which it has organised GP participation in the vaccine scheme, now says 2,300 participating GPs are receiving vaccine supplies.
This figure marks a significant increase in reported participating GP numbers in recent days. GPs have complained in recent weeks about the lack of consultation with them in advance about the logistics of the vaccine scheme.
There have been reports that some GPs have declined to take part in the scheme or at least were delaying participation pending clarification on legal and other administrative matters.
However, many GPs have already begun vaccinating patients in the first designated at-risk group - people under 65 with chronic illness and pregnant women, and at this stage, it is expected that most GPs in the country will be taking part in the programme by next week.
People in other at-risk groups - the over 65s, all children and healthcare workers, will not be included in the vaccine programme for a number of weeks.
Prof Colm Bergin of the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland said he believed healthcare workers should have been included in the initial cohort for vaccination.
At this stage, those in the initial at-risk group are advised to contact their GP to see if they are participating in the scheme.
The HSE says if a GP is not participating, vaccination will also be available from special clinics from next Monday - 45 of these are being set up around the country. The vaccine is free of charge to everyone, whether or not they have a medical card.
Details of the vaccine clinics are available from GPs or on the HSE website www.hse.ie and at www.swineflu.ie
Appointments can be booked at the clinics from Monday through the above websites or by phoning 1850 24 1850
Those in the at-risk groups will be accommodated on a walk-in basis too, although the HSE advises that an appointment should be pre-booked where possible.
The HSE has also said some people in the at-risk groups can avail of the vaccine in some hospitals and health facilities. These centres have been receiving vaccines this week to ensure they can vaccinate at-risk patients.
Dr Fenton Howell of the HSE told the press briefing that there were up to 500,000 people in the at-risk group initially targeted for the vaccine.
He estimated that 400,000 vaccines would have been delivered within the next two weeks to GPs, and GPs had already been given around 200,000 vaccines. In addition, a further 100,000 would have been delivered to HSE clinics by then.
Dr Howell said it is estimated that up to one million vaccine doses will be delivered by Christmas.
Public information material on the vaccination campaign was unveiled today, including information leaflets for those now being offered the vaccine.
Leaflets for people with long-term illness and for pregnant women are available at the websites mentioned above and below. These are also available from GPs and pharmacies.
An advertising campaign about the vaccine programme begins this week.
The HSE says that with incidence and fatalities from swine flu increasing, "vaccination is the most important tool we have to protect the Irish population."
To-date, one adverse reaction to the vaccine has been reported to the Irish Medicines Board (IMB). Dr Joan Gilvarry of the IMB told the latest briefing that localised skin reactions to the vaccine were common but not serious.
In addition, vaccine recipients can suffer from symptoms such as chills, fever, and nausea but these synptoms usually passed after two days. There may be severe allergic reactions to the vaccine but these are very rare.
The HSE has stressed that as with any vaccines, risks have to be balanced with the benefits and the authorities in Ireland are satisfied the benefits from the vaccine outweighs any possible risks of side effects.
Swine flu information points:
Automated phone info line: 1800 94 11 00
HSE info line: 1850 24 1850
EoinB Posted:
31/10/2009 10:45 |
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people should breathe through their nose to help reduce the risk of infection. Your nose filters out 75% of particles and infefctions etc from the air you breathe. If people both coughed and sneezed (yes, it is possible) with their mouth closed then the rate of spread to everyone else of colds flus and swine flu would be far reduced. An additional benefit of breathing through your nose is the reduction in the volume and amount breathed in (this has a direct impact, halving or reducing to one third the amount of air one breathes and a similar effect on your chance of catching a cold or flu). Now if the HSE encouraged this in addition to the catch it, bin it, kill it campaign it might address the current rapid increase in infection rates...so simple and so effective...why is it not being advocated? |
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peb Posted:
01/11/2009 08:32 |
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IN MONAGHAN TOWN THERE ARE AT PRESENT NO GP'S 'WILLING' TO GIVE THE H1N1 VACCINE. ITS A DISGRACE THAT THEY WILL PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH IT, HIDDING BEHIND EXCUSES. IT IS A TOTAL NEGLECT OF THE VERY VUNERABLE. HOW CAN THOSE GP'S SLEEP AT NIGHT WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE AND FACE THOSE PATIENTS ON A DAILY BASIS. I HAVE SAID ENOUGH BUT COULD SAY ALOT MORE. THEY SHOULD BE NAMED AND SHAMED. |
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Anonymous Posted:
05/11/2009 10:39 |
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peb, I know that there are clinics in Dundalk which provides the vaccine. Maybe you could attend there instead. |
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