Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
RCPI strongly urges vaccine for children
Gary Culliton
gary.culliton@imt.ie
The RCPI?s Faculty of Paediatrics has strongly backed swine flu vaccination for all children over six months of age and for people in household contact with children aged less than six months.
Immunisation may be obtained through HSE Clinics and family doctors (for those in the at-risk groups).
The frequency of H1N1 infection in Ireland is among the highest in Europe.
The rates of infection, severe illness and death have been reported as up to four times higher in children than in adults, the RCPI said.
According to Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) figures up to November 16, of 3,915 lab confirmed cases of pandemic H1N1, 1,691 were children aged 15 years or younger (43 per cent). Three hundred and eighty-two children have been hospitalised with confirmed H1N1, 47 per cent of these were under frive years of age.
Eighteen children aged between zero to 15 years have been admitted to ICU, 11 of these were under five years of age. There have been two H1N1-related deaths in children.
Pandemic flu vaccine is recommended for all children over six months of age unless there are specific contraindications to vaccination, the RCPI said.
Children, particularly those with chronic lung conditions, e.g. cystic fibrosis or asthma, neurodevelopmental disorders, e.g. cerebral palsy or sickle-cell diseases, are at higher risk of severe flu infection and should be vaccinated as a matter of urgency.
Posted in Public Health on 26 November 2009
http://www.imt.ie/news/2009/11/rcpi_strongly_urges_vaccine_fo.html
Gary Culliton
gary.culliton@imt.ie
The RCPI?s Faculty of Paediatrics has strongly backed swine flu vaccination for all children over six months of age and for people in household contact with children aged less than six months.
Immunisation may be obtained through HSE Clinics and family doctors (for those in the at-risk groups).
The frequency of H1N1 infection in Ireland is among the highest in Europe.
The rates of infection, severe illness and death have been reported as up to four times higher in children than in adults, the RCPI said.
According to Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) figures up to November 16, of 3,915 lab confirmed cases of pandemic H1N1, 1,691 were children aged 15 years or younger (43 per cent). Three hundred and eighty-two children have been hospitalised with confirmed H1N1, 47 per cent of these were under frive years of age.
Eighteen children aged between zero to 15 years have been admitted to ICU, 11 of these were under five years of age. There have been two H1N1-related deaths in children.
Pandemic flu vaccine is recommended for all children over six months of age unless there are specific contraindications to vaccination, the RCPI said.
Children, particularly those with chronic lung conditions, e.g. cystic fibrosis or asthma, neurodevelopmental disorders, e.g. cerebral palsy or sickle-cell diseases, are at higher risk of severe flu infection and should be vaccinated as a matter of urgency.
Posted in Public Health on 26 November 2009
http://www.imt.ie/news/2009/11/rcpi_strongly_urges_vaccine_fo.html