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Flu jab snub fears
ANNE MATHER
October 26, 2009 08:18am
DOCTORS are concerned young Tasmanians are snubbing the state's mass swine flu immunisation program.
About 10,000 Tasmanians have so far been vaccinated against swine flu and GPs report most of those coming forward are older people.
Health authorities are searching for ways to increase the uptake so the state can reach its minimum target of 150,000 by the start of next winter.
Acting public health director Chrissie Pickin said the rate needed to pick up before the onslaught of the second wave of the pandemic.
"We will need to encourage people to increase the rate," Dr Pickin said.
GPs are concerned young people are snubbing the vaccine, despite the fact they are in a vulnerable group.
General Practice South medical director Geoff Chapman said most of those being vaccinated were older people and retired people, but younger ones needed to act.
"We know with swine flu that young people seem to mount a more vigorous response to it and this causes them to actually get sicker," Dr Chapman said.
Dr Pickin warned the virus was still circulating in the community, with two victims -- including one pregnant woman -- hospitalised with swine flu this month.
She said the rates of infection had decreased but "it hasn't gone away".
"Unlike normal seasonal flus which tend to go away in summer, the novel pandemics tend to hang around," she said.
Dr Pickin said there had been hotspots of swine flu in the northern hemisphere over its summer.
She urged people to get immunised, particularly those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, people travelling to the northern hemisphere and those hosting guests from the northern hemisphere.
"The northern hemisphere is seeing the second wave of the pandemic and they are seeing it earlier than they would have expected," Dr Pickin said.
She said people living in Burnie and Hobart should also consider the risk posed by visiting cruise ships, the season for which starts next week.
Dr Chapman said most of the people coming in for a jab were those who regularly turned up for flu vaccines.
He said GPs may soon consider ways of increasing awareness of the vaccine.
Dr Pickin said the immunisation program -- entering its fourth week -- would soon be extended so businesses could offer it to employees.
The free vaccine is available to everyone over the age of 10, with trials continuing to determine whether those younger than 10 need one dose or two doses.
Health Department figures from mid last week showed just over 9000 people had been vaccinated. Dr Pickin said hospitals were also offering the vaccines to staff, which would bring the figure to about 10,000.
She said most hospitals had received a good response, although uptake in North-West hospitals -- the Mersey and the North West Regional -- had been slower.
"We are a little bit concerned about that," she said.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article...lifestyle.html
ANNE MATHER
October 26, 2009 08:18am
DOCTORS are concerned young Tasmanians are snubbing the state's mass swine flu immunisation program.
About 10,000 Tasmanians have so far been vaccinated against swine flu and GPs report most of those coming forward are older people.
Health authorities are searching for ways to increase the uptake so the state can reach its minimum target of 150,000 by the start of next winter.
Acting public health director Chrissie Pickin said the rate needed to pick up before the onslaught of the second wave of the pandemic.
"We will need to encourage people to increase the rate," Dr Pickin said.
GPs are concerned young people are snubbing the vaccine, despite the fact they are in a vulnerable group.
General Practice South medical director Geoff Chapman said most of those being vaccinated were older people and retired people, but younger ones needed to act.
"We know with swine flu that young people seem to mount a more vigorous response to it and this causes them to actually get sicker," Dr Chapman said.
Dr Pickin warned the virus was still circulating in the community, with two victims -- including one pregnant woman -- hospitalised with swine flu this month.
She said the rates of infection had decreased but "it hasn't gone away".
"Unlike normal seasonal flus which tend to go away in summer, the novel pandemics tend to hang around," she said.
Dr Pickin said there had been hotspots of swine flu in the northern hemisphere over its summer.
She urged people to get immunised, particularly those with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, people travelling to the northern hemisphere and those hosting guests from the northern hemisphere.
"The northern hemisphere is seeing the second wave of the pandemic and they are seeing it earlier than they would have expected," Dr Pickin said.
She said people living in Burnie and Hobart should also consider the risk posed by visiting cruise ships, the season for which starts next week.
Dr Chapman said most of the people coming in for a jab were those who regularly turned up for flu vaccines.
He said GPs may soon consider ways of increasing awareness of the vaccine.
Dr Pickin said the immunisation program -- entering its fourth week -- would soon be extended so businesses could offer it to employees.
The free vaccine is available to everyone over the age of 10, with trials continuing to determine whether those younger than 10 need one dose or two doses.
Health Department figures from mid last week showed just over 9000 people had been vaccinated. Dr Pickin said hospitals were also offering the vaccines to staff, which would bring the figure to about 10,000.
She said most hospitals had received a good response, although uptake in North-West hospitals -- the Mersey and the North West Regional -- had been slower.
"We are a little bit concerned about that," she said.
http://www.themercury.com.au/article...lifestyle.html