Swine flu vaccine fast-tracked August 20, 2009 12:00am
PREGNANT women, health workers and the chronically ill could be vaccinated against swine flu within weeks under a new Federal Government move.
They will be at the front of the queue under a fast-tracked vaccine rollout to protect every Australian from the potentially fatal disease.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Federal Government will take delivery of two million doses of the vaccine by the end of next week. More than 450,000 doses have been earmarked for Queensland ? where 29 people with the disease have died.
A further 97 Queenslanders are in hospital, with 35 in intensive care.
The rollout comes amid increasing concern over deaths of seemingly healthy people.
It is believed vaccinations could begin by September 7 if the green light is given by Chief Medical Officer Jim Bishop and a team of health experts.
Pregnant women, especially those in the second or third trimester, and anyone with a respiratory illness, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis, will be vaccinated first.
Indigenous Australians, cardiac patients, cancer sufferers, the morbidly obese and those with type 2 diabetes would also get priority with doctors, nurses and other health workers.
Special immunisation clinics are likely to be set up in major hospitals, while GPs will also administer the vaccine.
Federal health authorities are still awaiting final safety data from vaccine manufacturer CSL before approving the massive vaccination program, which will be closely watched overseas.
It is believed the Government is not fully satisfied with initial information provided by the company.
But CSL spokeswoman Rachel David said the vaccine was almost identical to its seasonal flu formulation, and trials had revealed no unanticipated side-effects.
The Government has ordered 21 million doses of the swine flu vaccine, enough to protect every Australian.
It will be delivered in batches through to next January.
Queensland has been hard hit by swine flu, with thousands of confirmed cases and many more going undetected.
Across the nation, there have been 32,224 confirmed cases and 121 people with the virus have died.... (story continues)
PREGNANT women, health workers and the chronically ill could be vaccinated against swine flu within weeks under a new Federal Government move.
They will be at the front of the queue under a fast-tracked vaccine rollout to protect every Australian from the potentially fatal disease.
The Courier-Mail can reveal the Federal Government will take delivery of two million doses of the vaccine by the end of next week. More than 450,000 doses have been earmarked for Queensland ? where 29 people with the disease have died.
A further 97 Queenslanders are in hospital, with 35 in intensive care.
The rollout comes amid increasing concern over deaths of seemingly healthy people.
It is believed vaccinations could begin by September 7 if the green light is given by Chief Medical Officer Jim Bishop and a team of health experts.
Pregnant women, especially those in the second or third trimester, and anyone with a respiratory illness, such as asthma or cystic fibrosis, will be vaccinated first.
Indigenous Australians, cardiac patients, cancer sufferers, the morbidly obese and those with type 2 diabetes would also get priority with doctors, nurses and other health workers.
Special immunisation clinics are likely to be set up in major hospitals, while GPs will also administer the vaccine.
Federal health authorities are still awaiting final safety data from vaccine manufacturer CSL before approving the massive vaccination program, which will be closely watched overseas.
It is believed the Government is not fully satisfied with initial information provided by the company.
But CSL spokeswoman Rachel David said the vaccine was almost identical to its seasonal flu formulation, and trials had revealed no unanticipated side-effects.
The Government has ordered 21 million doses of the swine flu vaccine, enough to protect every Australian.
It will be delivered in batches through to next January.
Queensland has been hard hit by swine flu, with thousands of confirmed cases and many more going undetected.
Across the nation, there have been 32,224 confirmed cases and 121 people with the virus have died.... (story continues)