Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
One million get swine flu jab as HSE clinics close
Thursday April 01 2010
More than one million people had the swine flu jab before vaccination clinics closed yesterday.
However, the HSE said the vaccine would continue to be available free to pregnant women, who would be able to get it from their GP or maternity hospital.
The supply of vaccines to guard against the first flu pandemic of the 21st century cost ?12.8m, while the bill for administering it came to another ?13.84m.
The HSE clinics, which have been operating for several months, administered 700,000 doses while GPs and hospitals gave out doses to another 360,000.
The majority of people would only have needed one dose, although two shots of the Baxter vaccine were necessary.
A spokesperson said: "Up to 25pc of the population have now received the vaccine -- this figure is much higher than has been achieved in other countries.
"We hope this level of protection will help in mitigating the effects of any possible second wave of infection."
Mutate
Swine flu levels are now very low but it is likely to return in the autumn and there is still the risk that it will mutate with another virus.
The take-up, however, has left the HSE with considerable surplus stocks, some of which it will hold on to for future use.
When the numbers who have caught swine flu are added on to those who have been vaccinated it is estimated that around 50pc of the population is immune to the virus.
The flu spread here in early summer and claimed the lives of 24 people in the Republic.
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/national-...ine-flu-jab-as-hse-clinics-close-2120381.html
Thursday April 01 2010
More than one million people had the swine flu jab before vaccination clinics closed yesterday.
However, the HSE said the vaccine would continue to be available free to pregnant women, who would be able to get it from their GP or maternity hospital.
The supply of vaccines to guard against the first flu pandemic of the 21st century cost ?12.8m, while the bill for administering it came to another ?13.84m.
The HSE clinics, which have been operating for several months, administered 700,000 doses while GPs and hospitals gave out doses to another 360,000.
The majority of people would only have needed one dose, although two shots of the Baxter vaccine were necessary.
A spokesperson said: "Up to 25pc of the population have now received the vaccine -- this figure is much higher than has been achieved in other countries.
"We hope this level of protection will help in mitigating the effects of any possible second wave of infection."
Mutate
Swine flu levels are now very low but it is likely to return in the autumn and there is still the risk that it will mutate with another virus.
The take-up, however, has left the HSE with considerable surplus stocks, some of which it will hold on to for future use.
When the numbers who have caught swine flu are added on to those who have been vaccinated it is estimated that around 50pc of the population is immune to the virus.
The flu spread here in early summer and claimed the lives of 24 people in the Republic.
- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/national-...ine-flu-jab-as-hse-clinics-close-2120381.html