Botswana Launches Campaign Against Influenza A (H1N1)

[Ronan Kelly]

Botswana Launches Campaign Against Influenza A (H1N1)

APA-Gaborone (Botswana) Botswana will train Districts Health Personnel on the administration of Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine starting on Wednesday amid reports that there was another outbreak of the flue in neighbouring Namibia.

Public Relations Officer in the Ministry of Health, Same Baitshenyetsi, on Tuesday said that the campaign will be conducted in two phases. During the first phase, all workers in the Botswana Health system (health workers, supportive and administrative staff) will be vaccinated.

?The second phase targets pregnant women, children of six to 59 months old and adults with underlying chronic health problems. These target groups will be vaccinated within 7 days of the campaign,? said Baitshenyetsi.

She said influenza vaccine is an effective way of protecting people from contracting illnesses during influenza epidemics and pandemics.

In June 2009 the UN World Health Organisation declared the first influenza pandemic in 40 years and ever since then the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic has spread across countries and young people and those with chronic diseases seem to have the highest rate of complications from the malady.

?All in all, Public Health experts have agreed that providing the Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine to at risk population is one of the effective ways to mitigate the negative effects of his pandemic,? she said.


KO/nm/APA
2010-05-18

http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=124475

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Botswana Launches Campaign Against Influenza A (H1N1)

Swine Flu Vaccine linked to three deaths Comment: article headline does not reflect article content. Ro
Written by KHONANI ONTEBETSE
Wednesday, 14 July 2010 00:00
MoH probes but won?t halt it

The Ministry of Health is said to be investigating three deaths linked to the ongoing AH1N1 (Swine Flu) vaccinations.

One victim was reported to be from Digawana in the Ngwaketse District, who allegedly suffered a heart attack a few days after receiving the shot. The second death was reported in Borolong in the Central District, while the third was reported in Broadhurst, in Gaborone.

Responding to The Gazette questions, Director of Public Health Shanaaz El-Halabi confirmed that they had recorded one case in Borolong where a person died a few days after being vaccinated.

?Yes, we are aware of one case where one person died in one of our facilities, but it might have been coincidental. For now it is premature to link it (the death) with the AH1N1 vaccine because there are no indications that it could be linked to it. Our medical investigations are ongoing to establish if indeed it is linked to the vaccination,? she said.
Halabi said any adverse effects are investigated, adding that the AH1N1 was a good intervention.

?We are monitoring the vaccination and there is nothing that warrants halting it so far because the benefits exceed the adverse effects. Our intervention was a good thing especially when you look at how the virus has killed people around the world,? she said.

She said when they launched the campaign they warned the public that the vaccination could have adverse effects on some people.

The AH1N1 vaccination campaign started on 21st June, 2010 and is expected to end on 17th August. It will be rolled out in four phases: the first phase targets health workers, officers of ports of entry, pregnant women, people with heart diseases, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and cancers aged, 11 to 64 years. The Second Phase targets children aged 6 months to 10 years; Phase 3 targets ages 11 to 39 years, while Phase Four targets all people above 39 years.

The MoH said in an earlier statement that all people would be vaccinated, except children under six months, people who are allergic to chicken eggs and those who have a history of reacting to other influenza vaccines.

http://www.gazettebw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6989:swine-flu-vaccine-linked-to-three-deaths&catid=18:headlines&Itemid=2