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Editor, Senior Moderator
HSE rules out swine flu jab for all as virus resurfaces
THE Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday ruled out reopening free swine flu vaccination clinics for the entire population even though the number of people being struck by the virus is expected to continue to rise.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, head of health protection with the HSE, said yesterday the expert advice from its advisory committee was that the current seasonal flu vaccine be offered only to at-risk groups -- including pregnant women -- and not the entire population.
However, he told the Irish Independent that cases of flu were expected to continue to rise in the short term. He said the surge at this time of winter was similar to patterns in the spread of flu seen over the past decade and it was highly unlikely we would see an epidemic.
He was speaking as GPs reported being very busy with "out-of-hours" calls in the evening and over the weekend from patients with flu-like symptoms.
Confirmed cases of flu soared over Christmas, and since October there have been at least 36 people hospitalised, with five admitted to intensive care.
..
The HSE spent around ?2.5m on 700,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine for this season -- in contrast to the ?12.8m given to buy the swine flu vaccine last winter in advance of the pandemic.
Around 900,000 doses of surplus swine flu vaccine are still in storage after not being used last year when it was offered free to the entire population. Just one in four availed of the jab.
These doses are likely to remain unused now and will have to be destroyed when their expiry date is up in September.
The reopening of schools as well as the return of thousands of people to the workplace is likely to see a rise in flu-like illnesses.
Those worst affected so far are the under fives and young people -- although other strains are also circulating which are a danger to the elderly.
http://www.independent.ie/national-...-jab-for-all-as-virus-resurfaces-2481548.html
THE Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday ruled out reopening free swine flu vaccination clinics for the entire population even though the number of people being struck by the virus is expected to continue to rise.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, head of health protection with the HSE, said yesterday the expert advice from its advisory committee was that the current seasonal flu vaccine be offered only to at-risk groups -- including pregnant women -- and not the entire population.
However, he told the Irish Independent that cases of flu were expected to continue to rise in the short term. He said the surge at this time of winter was similar to patterns in the spread of flu seen over the past decade and it was highly unlikely we would see an epidemic.
He was speaking as GPs reported being very busy with "out-of-hours" calls in the evening and over the weekend from patients with flu-like symptoms.
Confirmed cases of flu soared over Christmas, and since October there have been at least 36 people hospitalised, with five admitted to intensive care.
..
The HSE spent around ?2.5m on 700,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine for this season -- in contrast to the ?12.8m given to buy the swine flu vaccine last winter in advance of the pandemic.
Around 900,000 doses of surplus swine flu vaccine are still in storage after not being used last year when it was offered free to the entire population. Just one in four availed of the jab.
These doses are likely to remain unused now and will have to be destroyed when their expiry date is up in September.
The reopening of schools as well as the return of thousands of people to the workplace is likely to see a rise in flu-like illnesses.
Those worst affected so far are the under fives and young people -- although other strains are also circulating which are a danger to the elderly.
http://www.independent.ie/national-...-jab-for-all-as-virus-resurfaces-2481548.html