Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...eath-toll-now-14-as-girl-9-dies-14603090.html
Swine flu death toll now 14 as girl (9) dies
By Lisa Smyth
Friday, 18 December 2009
A nine-year-old child diagnosed with swine flu has died ? bringing to 14 the number of people in Northern Ireland who have died since the outbreak of the virus.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety announced the youngster died over the past six days but declined to give any further details other than to explain that the child had underlying health conditions.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said the death served as a ?tragic reminder that the swine flu virus is still prevalent?.
The latest death comes amid uncertainty around Government efforts to vaccinate all children across Northern Ireland between six months and five years old before the end of next month.
The DHSSPS has offered reassurances that the second phase of the vaccination programme will continue as planned, and while a spokeswoman said the Health and Social Care (HSC) Board is presently discussing the delivery of the programme with GP practices, she admitted it is not yet known how many doctors have agreed to participate.
In many cases, practice nurses are administering the vaccination.
One nurse, who did not want to be identified, said: ?I don?t know what is going to happen with the second phase. It?s an awful lot of work. Giving an injection to a child isn?t like giving an injection to an adult who comes in and sits down and rolls their sleeve up and the job is done quickly.
?A lot of children come in and they are nervous and it can take quite a bit of coaxing to get them to allow you to give them the injection.?
While there has been a swine flu related death in the last week, according to the most recent monitoring period, GP consultations, the number of antiviral prescriptions handed out and out of hours calls for flu like illnesses have all decreased.
By Wednesday, 573 people with the H1N1 virus had been hospitalised and total number of 1,344 people had been diagnosed with swine flu. Dr McBride said: ?The response to phase one of the vaccination programme has been excellent and I am pleased so many have taken up the offer to protect themselves.
?In Northern Ireland, we have information that almost 220,000 people have now been vaccinated. Returns are still coming in from around a fifth of GP practices so the actual number vaccinated is likely to be somewhat greater.
?The Health and Social Care Board also continues to progress plans for phase two of the vaccination programme. Children over six months and under five years will be called for vaccination by either their local HSC Trust or GP practice in the coming weeks.
?I would encourage all parents to take up the offer of vaccination for their child.?
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...14-as-girl-9-dies-14603090.html#ixzz0Zzzr6uvx
Swine flu death toll now 14 as girl (9) dies
By Lisa Smyth
Friday, 18 December 2009
A nine-year-old child diagnosed with swine flu has died ? bringing to 14 the number of people in Northern Ireland who have died since the outbreak of the virus.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety announced the youngster died over the past six days but declined to give any further details other than to explain that the child had underlying health conditions.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said the death served as a ?tragic reminder that the swine flu virus is still prevalent?.
The latest death comes amid uncertainty around Government efforts to vaccinate all children across Northern Ireland between six months and five years old before the end of next month.
The DHSSPS has offered reassurances that the second phase of the vaccination programme will continue as planned, and while a spokeswoman said the Health and Social Care (HSC) Board is presently discussing the delivery of the programme with GP practices, she admitted it is not yet known how many doctors have agreed to participate.
In many cases, practice nurses are administering the vaccination.
One nurse, who did not want to be identified, said: ?I don?t know what is going to happen with the second phase. It?s an awful lot of work. Giving an injection to a child isn?t like giving an injection to an adult who comes in and sits down and rolls their sleeve up and the job is done quickly.
?A lot of children come in and they are nervous and it can take quite a bit of coaxing to get them to allow you to give them the injection.?
While there has been a swine flu related death in the last week, according to the most recent monitoring period, GP consultations, the number of antiviral prescriptions handed out and out of hours calls for flu like illnesses have all decreased.
By Wednesday, 573 people with the H1N1 virus had been hospitalised and total number of 1,344 people had been diagnosed with swine flu. Dr McBride said: ?The response to phase one of the vaccination programme has been excellent and I am pleased so many have taken up the offer to protect themselves.
?In Northern Ireland, we have information that almost 220,000 people have now been vaccinated. Returns are still coming in from around a fifth of GP practices so the actual number vaccinated is likely to be somewhat greater.
?The Health and Social Care Board also continues to progress plans for phase two of the vaccination programme. Children over six months and under five years will be called for vaccination by either their local HSC Trust or GP practice in the coming weeks.
?I would encourage all parents to take up the offer of vaccination for their child.?
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...14-as-girl-9-dies-14603090.html#ixzz0Zzzr6uvx