Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Private hospitals shy away from swine flu vaccine
By: PRIYANKA VORA Date: 2010-08-16 Place: Mumbai
While the state government managed to convince employees in government-owned hospitals to get inoculated with the injectable swine-flu vaccine, it seems to have had little success in getting employees of private hospitals to do the same.
According to the BMC, only four private hospitals in the city have come forward to procure the vaccine. "Out of the 80 doses given to the four hospitals, only 30 have been used. The vaccines were given only to those hospitals that have swine flu isolation centres," said Dr Mangala Gomare, head of BMC's immunisation department.
Lilavati Hospital, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Hinduja Hospital and Sushrusha Hospital in Dadar were given 20 doses each. While Lilavati has used up all the doses, Hinduja and Sushrusha have not inoculated even a single doctor or paramedic.
"We have vaccinated 20 health personnel who work to tackle swine flu at the hospital. I have even asked the civic body to give us another 20 doses as other staffers are also ready to get vaccinated," said Dr Sheela Prasad, medical superintendent, Lilavati Hospital.
Poor response
Dr V M Kulkarni, assistant director and in-charge, immunisation, Directorate of Health Services, said, "The overall response to the vaccination drive has not been satisfactory across the state. Eight districts -- including Nashik, Hingoli and Parbhani -- have not inoculated even one health professional. In our directives, we have asked the district level officers to motivate people to come forward to get vaccinated and send the unused doses to the Pune centre by August 20."
Mumbai, which had received 1,200 doses, has used only 602 whereas Pune has inoculated 4,445 health personnel. The state had received a total of 34,340 swine flu vaccines, of which 7,482 have been used.
When questioned about the tepid response, Dr Sanjay Oak, dean, KEM, said, "The immunity provided by the vaccine lasts only a year. Also, the doctors feel that opting for the vaccine is unnecessary if they can be cured by Tamiflu."
"Since August 2009, 612 people have died after contracting the H1N1 virus in the state, which has seen the highest mortality rate in the country. People are shying away from taking the vaccine because most deaths have been reported from the Pune circle only. While people in Pune are coming forward for the vaccine in droves out of fear, people in other districts are still casual about the disease," said a state health official.
Swine flu deaths since April
266: In Maharashtra
32: In Mumbai
131: In Pune
http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/aug/160810-swine-flu-vaccine-private-hospitals.htm
By: PRIYANKA VORA Date: 2010-08-16 Place: Mumbai
While the state government managed to convince employees in government-owned hospitals to get inoculated with the injectable swine-flu vaccine, it seems to have had little success in getting employees of private hospitals to do the same.
According to the BMC, only four private hospitals in the city have come forward to procure the vaccine. "Out of the 80 doses given to the four hospitals, only 30 have been used. The vaccines were given only to those hospitals that have swine flu isolation centres," said Dr Mangala Gomare, head of BMC's immunisation department.
Lilavati Hospital, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Hinduja Hospital and Sushrusha Hospital in Dadar were given 20 doses each. While Lilavati has used up all the doses, Hinduja and Sushrusha have not inoculated even a single doctor or paramedic.
"We have vaccinated 20 health personnel who work to tackle swine flu at the hospital. I have even asked the civic body to give us another 20 doses as other staffers are also ready to get vaccinated," said Dr Sheela Prasad, medical superintendent, Lilavati Hospital.
Poor response
Dr V M Kulkarni, assistant director and in-charge, immunisation, Directorate of Health Services, said, "The overall response to the vaccination drive has not been satisfactory across the state. Eight districts -- including Nashik, Hingoli and Parbhani -- have not inoculated even one health professional. In our directives, we have asked the district level officers to motivate people to come forward to get vaccinated and send the unused doses to the Pune centre by August 20."
Mumbai, which had received 1,200 doses, has used only 602 whereas Pune has inoculated 4,445 health personnel. The state had received a total of 34,340 swine flu vaccines, of which 7,482 have been used.
When questioned about the tepid response, Dr Sanjay Oak, dean, KEM, said, "The immunity provided by the vaccine lasts only a year. Also, the doctors feel that opting for the vaccine is unnecessary if they can be cured by Tamiflu."
"Since August 2009, 612 people have died after contracting the H1N1 virus in the state, which has seen the highest mortality rate in the country. People are shying away from taking the vaccine because most deaths have been reported from the Pune circle only. While people in Pune are coming forward for the vaccine in droves out of fear, people in other districts are still casual about the disease," said a state health official.
Swine flu deaths since April
266: In Maharashtra
32: In Mumbai
131: In Pune
http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/aug/160810-swine-flu-vaccine-private-hospitals.htm