Swine Flu vaccination programme to begin next week

The HSE and Department of Health has announced that the Swine Flu Vaccination Programme will commence on November 2. As very few people in Ireland have any immunity to Swine Flu, over the coming months, the HSE will offer a Swine Flu vaccine to the entire population. Everyone will be offered the Swine Flu vaccine. However, as the vaccine is being delivered in phases, we will start with the people who are more at risk from Swine Flu. An agreed schedule of vaccine delivery was put in place earlier this year, but manufacturers have been delayed in meeting these delivery schedules. This problem is not limited to Ireland but is a worldwide problem. As such, the more at risk groups (set out below) will be offered the vaccine first. At Risk Groups Pregnant women - from 14 weeks pregnant to 6 weeks after giving birthAnd Anyone aged over 6 months and under 65 years who has: Long-term Lung Disease (like Asthma and Cystic Fibrosis); Long-term Heart Disease; Long-term Kidney Disease; Long-term Liver Disease; Long-term Neurological Disease (like MS, Cerebral Palsy); Immunosuppression e.g. cancer treatment (and their household contacts); Haemoglobinopathies; Diabetes Morbid Obesity (check with your GP) People aged 65 and over seem to have some immunity to Swine Flu so they are not in the most at-risk group and will be vaccinated at a later stage. The HSE and Department of Health have been in touch with GPs and their representatives over the last ten days, seeking their partnership in helping to vaccinate this group. "It is our view that the general practice setting is by far the best place to vaccinate this group - this is because GPs are familiar with this group of people and their specific needs. More importantly, the people in this group are among the most unwell and vulnerable in our society and in the most part know their GP, are comfortable with them as their regular caregiver, and will find this the easiest location to attend," the HSE said. Then, on November 1st, a national information campaign will commence, inviting those in the at-risk groups to make contact with their GP and make an appointment to receive their vaccine at specific clinics. In the eventuality that an individual's GP is not participating, alternative arrangements will be put in place. Once this group has been completed, over the coming weeks and months we will move to the other groups, including healthcare workers (to provide protection to their vulnerable patients), children and older people, before offering vaccines to the wider population. More detail on the timing of vaccination for these others groups will be announced at a later date and through the HSE's information campaign.