The health department will seek to immunise at least three million people

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Dept prepares for H1N1

2010-01-26 20:10

Johannesburg - The health department will seek to immunise at least three million people against the H1N1 flu virus before winter sets in, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said in Johannesburg on Tuesday

"We have 1.3 million doses of vaccine," he said on the sidelines of a conference of the country's health MECs and national and international health experts.

The department hopes to immunise at least three million people and is still seeking funding for the additional vaccines. Motsoaledi said they could not immunise everybody as they could not afford it.

All pregnant women will be immunised, healthcare workers, some people at points of entry into the country and young people who have been most vulnerable to the H1N1 virus, which can cause death.

Because South Africa is classified as both developed and developing, the country did not benefit from the free vaccines distributed to all African countries. Algeria was also turned down.

"They told us we are developed."



- SAPA

http://www.news24.com/Content/South...b5c3c/26-01-2010-08-10/Dept_prepares_for_H1N1

 

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Re: The health department will seek to immunise at least three million people

Health Department strapped for H1N1 vaccine cash

Imraan Karolia | 16 Hours Ago

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The Health Department has confirmed that it does not have enough money for swine flu vaccines.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comfficeffice" /><o></o>

It recently ordered 1.3 million doses from international pharmaceutical companies, fearing a second wave of the pandemic in the months before winter.<o></o>
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-comffice:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on"></st1lace></st1:country-region>
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">South Africa</st1lace></st1:country-region> has not qualified for free units from international sources and it is feared the vaccines will not be enough. <o></o>

So far there are more than 12 000 reported cases of the H1N1 strain in the country, with almost 100 fatalities.<o></o>

The department?s Fidel Hadebe said: ?We will be looking at our own resources.

There?s nothing that stops us from urging on the initial investment we have made already in terms of swine flu vaccine.?<o></o>
<o></o>
<o>(Edited by Deshnee Subramany)</o>
<o></o>
<o>http://www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/articleprog.aspx?id=31425</o>

 

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Re: The health department will seek to immunise at least three million people

H1N1 immunisations to start

2010-02-17 13:41

Johannesburg - The health department will start a national H1N1 immunisation campaign on March 15, ahead of the Soccer World Cup in June, the health ministry said on Wednesday.

"We have 1.3 million doses of H1N1 vaccines and have been given another 3.5 million by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The DoH [Department of Health] is preparing for two national immunisation campaigns for H1N1 influenza," the ministry said.

The first phase would take place between March 15 and May 31 for clinicians working in casualty wards, intensive care units, emergency services personnel and children aged under 15 with HIV and Aids.

The second phase would take place between May 3 and May 31 for pregnant women and heart and lung patients.

"Not everyone needs to be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus," the ministry said.

However, it urged people to get influenza vaccinations by the end of March, before winter started.

Polio, measles

The department is also starting a national polio and measles vaccination campaign in April.

The first round, between April 12 and April 23, would be for children aged under 15, while the second round, between May 24 and May 28, would be for children under five.

"Parents and caregivers are urged to sign consent forms for children to be immunised. The immunisations given during the national campaign do not replace the routine immunisation."


- SAPA

http://www.news24.com/Content/World.../17-02-2010-01-41/H1N1_immunisations_to_start

 

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Re: The health department will seek to immunise at least three million people

Swine flu vaccine campaign kicks off
2010/04/09
THE Eastern Cape Department of Health has embarked on a massive campaign to vaccinate vulnerable people against the H1N1 influenza virus. <!--par0-->
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The campaign, which started at the beginning of this week, is expected to cover vulnerable people across the province in order to protect them against the virus by the beginning of the winter season.<!--par0-->
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Departmental spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said: ?We have already received 22000 doses for the first phase, which began on Tuesday, and the aim is to vaccinate babies and children up to the age of 15 who are on anti-retroviral treatment.?<!--par0-->
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He said that this would be followed by the second phase as soon as more vaccines came through, and it would target pregnant women and other vulnerable people, including those with diabetes, heart problems and other chronic illnesses. <!--par0-->
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These efforts by the department follow a global outbreak of the virus, also known as swine flu, during winter last year, which saw almost 100 Eastern Cape people infected. <!--par0-->
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One person, a 27-year-old pregnant woman , was confirmed to have died from the H1N1 virus at the Dora Nginza Hospital in Port Elizabeth.<!--par0-->
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Last month the World Health Organisation undertook to deliver millions of H1N1 vaccines to some African countries ahead of winter, with South Africa being a recipient. ?We have received the doses from the national Department of Health, that will be sending us more by May,? Kupelo said.<!--par0-->
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He said that the departmental employees who were actively working with patients would also be vaccinated against the virus. <!--par0-->
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Kupelo said: ?We hope to complete the process by the beginning of June in time for winter, but also to ensure that our people are protected against the virus when the World Cup rolls around.? This, he said, was to avoid the contraction of the virus when foreign visitors, who might carry the virus, arrive in the province. ? ntandom@dispatch.co.za

http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=393227