Ronan Kelly
Retired 2020
Swine flu fears left newborns without TB jabs
Friday March 26 2010
Up to 40,000 newborns had to be left without the vaccine to protect against TB because public health staff were so busy dealing with swine flu.
Dr Paula Gilvarry said that doctors and nurses in the Health Service Executive were told to prioritise the fight against swine flu. This meant the BCG vaccine routinely given to newborns had to be delayed and staff are now trying to catch up on the backlog.
Dr Gilvarry, who works in the north west, said the concern is that children who should have received the vaccine will not be brought back to clinics by parents.
She said the problem was compounded by the staff moratorium which is stretching services.
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/health/la...rs-left-newborns-without-tb-jabs-2112574.html
Friday March 26 2010
Up to 40,000 newborns had to be left without the vaccine to protect against TB because public health staff were so busy dealing with swine flu.
Dr Paula Gilvarry said that doctors and nurses in the Health Service Executive were told to prioritise the fight against swine flu. This meant the BCG vaccine routinely given to newborns had to be delayed and staff are now trying to catch up on the backlog.
Dr Gilvarry, who works in the north west, said the concern is that children who should have received the vaccine will not be brought back to clinics by parents.
She said the problem was compounded by the staff moratorium which is stretching services.
Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/health/la...rs-left-newborns-without-tb-jabs-2112574.html