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Source: http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/4515...ions_could_put_Sussex_child_vaccines_at_risk/
Swine flu vaccinations could put Sussex child vaccines at risk
11:00am Wednesday 29th July 2009
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By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter ?
A mass vaccination for swine flu could put Sussex children at risk of catching serious illnesses such as meningitis or diphtheria.
Routine childhood immunisation programmes could be affected if health bosses have to focus on getting the flu vaccine out to thousands of people across the county later this year.
The issue was raised by West Sussex?s acting director of public health, Peter Hayward, in a report to the county's primary care trust board.
However health bosses insist they will be able to cope and are confident they can avoid any delays to vaccination programmes.
Mr Hayward said: ?Existing programmes should be able to continue throughout the year alongside any new national programmes and we will do everything we can to make sure this is the case.
?However it is important we highlight to our board the chance that if we are required to put in place a high profile immunisation programme there will be an increased pressure on our current resources.
?If we have to put in place a mass vaccination programme very quickly, which may say thousands of people have to be immunised in a short amount of time, there is only so many immunisation staff to do that and consideration will have to be made to their existing workloads.
?However we are still a long way away from any disruption to services.?
Mr Hayward said the trust had been preparing for an emergency like the pandemic for five years and was waiting for guidance from the Department of Health about who should be immunised first.
Children are given several vaccines in their first few years including ones for tetanus, polio, meningitis and measles, mumps and rubella.
If not enough of the population recieves the injections it can lead to an outbreak of the potentially deadly diseases.
The number of suspected flu cases is continuing to rise across Sussex with people showing signs of the virus being urged to use the government's national Pandemic Flu Service system.
Anyone who thinks they have swine flu can call a dedicated number or visit the website to check their symptoms.
If they are offered antiviral treatment, they are given a unique number and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is.
Prescriptions will not be given to anyone just turning up at a collection point without their number.
For more details call 0800 1513100 or go to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.
Swine flu vaccinations could put Sussex child vaccines at risk
11:00am Wednesday 29th July 2009
comment Comments (0) Have your say ?
By Siobhan Ryan, Health Reporter ?
A mass vaccination for swine flu could put Sussex children at risk of catching serious illnesses such as meningitis or diphtheria.
Routine childhood immunisation programmes could be affected if health bosses have to focus on getting the flu vaccine out to thousands of people across the county later this year.
The issue was raised by West Sussex?s acting director of public health, Peter Hayward, in a report to the county's primary care trust board.
However health bosses insist they will be able to cope and are confident they can avoid any delays to vaccination programmes.
Mr Hayward said: ?Existing programmes should be able to continue throughout the year alongside any new national programmes and we will do everything we can to make sure this is the case.
?However it is important we highlight to our board the chance that if we are required to put in place a high profile immunisation programme there will be an increased pressure on our current resources.
?If we have to put in place a mass vaccination programme very quickly, which may say thousands of people have to be immunised in a short amount of time, there is only so many immunisation staff to do that and consideration will have to be made to their existing workloads.
?However we are still a long way away from any disruption to services.?
Mr Hayward said the trust had been preparing for an emergency like the pandemic for five years and was waiting for guidance from the Department of Health about who should be immunised first.
Children are given several vaccines in their first few years including ones for tetanus, polio, meningitis and measles, mumps and rubella.
If not enough of the population recieves the injections it can lead to an outbreak of the potentially deadly diseases.
The number of suspected flu cases is continuing to rise across Sussex with people showing signs of the virus being urged to use the government's national Pandemic Flu Service system.
Anyone who thinks they have swine flu can call a dedicated number or visit the website to check their symptoms.
If they are offered antiviral treatment, they are given a unique number and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is.
Prescriptions will not be given to anyone just turning up at a collection point without their number.
For more details call 0800 1513100 or go to www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu.