2,656 swine flu vaccinations, but GPs waiting for supplies
In a statement, a HSE spokesperson said by yesterday afternoon 2,656 people in the high-risk category had received the vaccine.
The highest uptake was in the HSE Dublin North East region where the seven clinics inoculated 890 people, followed by the HSE South (659), HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster (590) and HSE West (517).
The spokesperson admitted “a small number” of GPs have yet to receive the vaccine. However, she said every effort was being made to implement the nationwide emergency immunisation programme, with 300 family doctors receiving the drug every day and a “busy” turnout being reported at the HSE’s 45 swine flu clinics.
The comment came after a number of GPs warned they have yet to receive doses of the vaccine despite agreeing to administer it in August.
Dr Colin Gleeson, from the Bank Place Clinic in Castletownbere, west Cork, said the situation meant “more than 100 people” in his area with serious health issues had to make an “85-mile, one-way journey” to receive the drug.
“I’m one of the only GPs in Castletownbere. We have more than 100 people on the waiting list already and there was no reason not to have the vials here by the start of this week.
“I’ve called the HSE countless times and they say the vaccine will be with me in the next few days because more cold-chain [refrigerated] vans are now available, but why should they be looking for more vans at the eleventh hour?
“A lot of my patients are in the at-risk category and the nearest clinic is in Killarney, the nearest centre of excellence hospital is CUH, which is an 85-mile, one-way journey.
“You can’t ask them to go on that journey, especially when they’re more elderly, but that’s what they are being asked to do. We’re an isolated area, we should have been a priority for receiving the vaccine,” he said.
The HSE spokesperson confirmed the number of cold-chain vehicles has increased from seven to 13 in recent days to address the situation, and all GP clinics should have the vaccine by week’s end.
However, west Cork councillor Noel Harrington said it was totally unacceptable that sick people and pregnant women were being forced to make lengthy journeys to receive the vaccine, and that a HSE clinic should be set up in the area.
The latest innoculation figures were released after it emerged nine adverse reactions to the swine flu vaccine were reported on Monday and yesterday.
Since the mass inoculation programme officially began the Irish Medicines Board has confirmed nine people have been hit with side-affects.
Among the symptoms confirmed in the patients – three of whom only reported illnesses yesterday – include redness and swelling around the injection site. The symptoms are within safety limits.
