Beara ‘needs swine flu centre’

THE HSE has been urged to set up an outreach centre for swine flu vaccination on the Beara peninsula.

Cllr Noel Harrington said it was totally unacceptable that sick people and pregnant women were being forced to make a 240km round trip to Clonakilty to get the jab.

That’s because the GPs in Beara didn’t sign up for the vaccination programme.

“What happens if people decide it’s too much hassle to travel that distance. There could be serious implications,” Mr Harrington said.

A HSE spokeswoman said it had no plans to provide an outreach clinic for the people of Beara, but Mr Harrington urged that they reconsider this in the interest of people’s health.

“There has to be some form of service provided with either a vaccination centre set up in Bantry or Castletownbere for those who live on the very western fringes of the county,” Mr Harrington said.

Meanwhile, GPs surgeries in Glanmire, Cork, finally received the swine flu vaccine yesterday, nearly a week after they were informed they would get it.

County councillor John Gilroy who has an illness which makes him vulnerable to swine flu, said the delay was completely unacceptable. Glanmire has a population of over 18,000.

Mr Gilroy highlighted the issue after discovering that none of the satellite town’s clinics had received the vaccine on time.

GPs there had been asked if they would participate in the vaccination programme as far back as September 24. They all completed forms by October 8 which were sent back to the HSE detailing how much vaccine was required.

By Monday last one GP confirmed he had only received syringes and needles. The HSE said the delay was down to supply problems.

The spokeswoman said those in the at risk category would be older than six months and younger than 65 and have long-term heart, kidney, liver and lung disease, a suppressed immune system or neurological disorder.

“We are not calling people over 65 at present because they have shown an immunity,” the HSE spokeswoman said.

She added that women who were between 14 weeks pregnant and six weeks after giving birth were also considered at risk and would be urged to get the vaccine.