Ireland government has ordered too many swine flu jabs, reports Irish independent

Summary

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 15:16

News - Latest News

< Prev		Next >

HSE has ordered too many swine flu vaccines

By Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent
Tuesday November 17 2009

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) is now expected to have surplus stocks of the swine flu vaccine next year after it entered into an €80m contract with drug companies.

Ireland was one of the countries which placed early orders for pandemic vaccines and is promised 7.7 million doses.

Although several hundred thousand doses have now been delivered here, the supply is expected to accelerate from next month onwards.

But with the announcement that just one dose, instead of two doses, of the vaccine Pandemrix is needed for everyone over 13 years of age, there will be excess stocks here next year. Two doses of the vaccine Celvapan, made by Baxter and delivered in HSE clinics, will still have to be administered.

The Department of Health said that it was in talks with the drug companies again but it was unclear if it could extricate itself from the contract for 7.7 million doses. The vaccine is now being administered to at-risk groups as well as healthcare workers and the first group of healthy under-fives.

Meanwhile, Beaumont Hospital in Dublin yesterday reiterated its appeal to visitors to heed restrictions to reduce the risk of swine flu spreading.

Hospitals haveimposed various restrictions in response to the threat. However, a Beaumont Hospital spokesman said "that the failure of the public to heed visiting restrictions could force it to take further action".

Asked what further action could entail, he said the most extreme measure was to ban all visitors with a few exceptions, but the situation had not reached that point.

- Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent

Add this page to Social Bookmarking websites