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Flu Vaccine Won't Run Out; Ulster Has 'Adequate Supplies'

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 December 2005, 12:00 CST

By Linda McKee

Health chiefs have promised that Ulster will not face a flu vaccine shortage this winter.Around 300,000 vaccines have already been administered - around the same as at this point last year - and the figure is expected to rise over the next few months, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety said yesterday.Normal flu vaccines will not protect people against bird flu or pandemic flu, she warned."There is no shortage of flu vaccine in Northern Ireland. Uptake rates have been very good this year and there will be plenty of vaccines for those who need them," she added.The flu vaccine is recommended for a range of groups including all those aged 65 and over, all those under the age of 65 with an at risk medical condition such as chronic respiratory disease including asthma or chronic heart disease and residents of nursing and residential homes

. "This year carers have been added to the list of groups which are recommended to get the flu vaccine," the spokeswoman said."Pandemic flu is caused when a new strain of influenza virus emerges which is markedly different from recently circulating strains. "These changes cannot be predicted in the same way as the changes in 'ordinary' flu viruses, so a vaccine specifically against the new strain cannot be developed in advance."UUP Assembly member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone Tom Elliott said it was reassuring that there would enough vaccine to meet need and predicted that most people would have received the flu jab by the end of November."The Department of Health have taken the prudent step of ordering the flu vaccine from a number of suppliers in order to avoid a repeat of last year when the only supplier was unable to deliver the quantities required," he said."The uptake rates set by the Department of Health are 70% for people aged 65 and over. I would like to see this figure surpassed, as it has been proven that influenza immunisation is highly effective". "I would urge those people who have not received their flu jab yet, to contact their local GP and make the necessary arrangements immediately," he said.

Source: Belfast Telegraph

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