Pregnant women and swine flu vaccine
Speaking before the first human trials of a potential vaccine were due to take place in Australia today, Dr Sam Coulter Smith, master of the Rotunda Hospital, said women should not be unduly concerned by international calls for them to delay pregnancy until after the pandemic.
However, he added that it was not clear whether the upcoming swine flu vaccine – which is expected to become available in September – would be safe for pregnant women to use.
“I can’t answer the question on whether it [the vaccine] is suitable for pregnant women,” said Dr Coulter Smith.
“This has been a relatively mild illness and you get over it quickly, but there have been a few rare cases where there have been maternal deaths,” he added.
Pregnant women are advised to take Relenza instead of Tamiflu if they have been infected with swine flu, as the inhaler drug does not have the same impact on pregnancy.
However, concerns have been raised over whether drug manufacturers will be able to develop similar protective measures in the upcoming vaccine.
News of the continuing lack of clarity over the potential side-affects of swine flu medicines for pregnant women came after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said the number of people to die worldwide as a result of the virus has risen to more than 700.
The figure stood at just 429 less than a fortnight ago, but the increasing spread of the virus has led to a surge in new cases – with the WHO stating that some nations should consider drawing up proposals to close schools in an attempt to lessen the spread of the infection.
While no deaths have been recorded in Ireland – with most cases described as mild – the infection rate has more than quadrupled in this country since the start of July.
According to the Department of Health’s latest update last night, 172 people in Ireland have contracted swine flu, with eight more cases confirmed yesterday.
Of the latest cases, half involved in-country transmissions.
Meanwhile, the first human trials of a swine-flu vaccine are due to begin in Australia.
CSL Ltd, the only flu-vaccine maker in the southern hemisphere, is planning to start the research in Adelaide by injecting a group of volunteers with its experimental vaccine. The firm plans to test the shot in 240 people during the next seven weeks.
