NINETEEN ADVERSE reactions to this year’s seasonal flu vaccine have been reported to date to the Irish Medicines Board, it was confirmed yesterday.
The number of reactions to the vaccine, which this year contains protection against swine flu and two other flu strains, has been significantly lower than the number of reactions associated with the pandemic swine flu vaccine when it was administered in late 2009 and early 2010, although many more people would have received the pandemic vaccine.
About 900 reports of suspected adverse reactions to the pandemic H1N1 vaccine had been reported by the end of 2009. The national swine flu immunisation programme began in November 2009 and ended in March 2010.
The medicines board said most of the reports of adverse reactions to this year’s vaccine “have been consistent with the expected pattern of adverse effects for the vaccines and include injection site reactions and flu-like symptoms”.
It is not yet clear how many people have received this year’s vaccine but the HSE is urging all those in at-risk groups to get vaccinated, as rates of swine flu infection continue to rise.
In a letter to GPs this week, the HSE said it strongly recommended vaccination for the following groups: those aged 65 and over; adults and children over six months with chronic health conditions such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, heart disease, diabetes and chronic liver and neurological disease; children and teenagers on long-term aspirin therapy; children with conditions which result in them attending special schools and day centres; those who are morbidly obese with a body mass index of over 40; residents of nursing homes and other long-stay facilities; healthcare staff; carers who have direct patient contact; all pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy and up to six weeks after birth; and people who have close regular contact with pigs, poultry and water fowl.
Dr Mel Bates of the Irish College of General Practitioners said GP surgeries were still getting calls to see if they should get the vaccine. He said the HSE needed to communicate more clearly the groups that should be vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the number of deaths from swine flu in Northern Ireland has risen from 13 to 14. The relatively high incidence of such deaths compared with the number of deaths in Britain is because of “robust” reporting in the North, according to the North’s Public Health Agency.
Forty-five swine flu deaths have been reported across the UK.
Dr Carolyn Harper of the Public Health Agency said it had detailed information on 10 of the 14 people who died and all had underlying health conditions. It was not yet known if the other four had underlying health conditions.
She added that the number of deaths was a sad reminder that swine flu, while an unpleasant but typically mild illness for most people, could also be very serious, particularly for those with underlying health problems.