Cystic fibrosis sufferer among first vaccinated

CAROLINE Heffernan is a 39-year-old from Tuam in Co Galway. She is also a cystic fibrosis sufferer.

Due to the severe impact swine flu or any other infections could have on someone with the debilitating condition, Caroline was one of the first people in Ireland to be vaccinated against the disease.

Two weeks ago Caroline, the advocate officer at Cystic Fibrosis Ireland, received a call from her GP asking her to make an appointment.

In the fortnight since she was given the jab, Caroline admits she has experienced some unexpected reactions.

Her arm, she says, was “very stiff” for two daysafter the injection, while she also reported a higher temperature than normal.

However, despite the irritations, she is pleased to have this medical defence.

Other people should make their own personal decisions, she says, but in her opinion anyone with a lung condition should seriously consider receiving the vaccine.

“There are concerns when you’re getting the vaccine, there’s pros and cons, but having cystic fibrosis changes things.

“Everybody will have individual views, they all have to make up their own mind whether to get it or not, but to my knowledge it’s safer to have it than not when you have a condition.

“I’m in and out of hospital with chest infections a lot and it would be a risk if I got swine flu, so I decided to get the vaccine.

“Most other people with cystic fibrosis I know have done the same thing, and some of my asthmatic relatives are receiving the jab this week, but other members of my family still haven’t made up their mind,” she said.