asked the Minister for Health whether cuts have taken place in supplies for anti-flu serum to general practitioners for treatment of medical card patients; and if he will give assurance that there will be no danger to public health as a result.
Written Answers - Anti-'Flu Serum Supplies.
187.
There has been no decrease in the provision of influenza vaccination. The situation inherent in the Deputy's question has arisen because of an unprecedented increase in the demand for flu vaccine. This increase is not due to any increase in the prevalence of influenza this year.
Vaccination is not recommended by the Department of Health for the attempted control of the general spread of influenza but to give individual protection to the groups most at risk. Each year a circular issues from the Department setting out these groups and indicating the vaccines to be used, based on WHO recommendations.
The target groups are adults and children with chronic disorders of the cardiovascular or pulmonary systems and residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities. Persons who are 65 years of age or older are considered to be a moderate risk and the decision to vaccinate such a person is a matter for the family doctor. The vaccine is supplied free of charge to all those for whom it is recommended.
Each year the health boards order influenza vaccines from the major suppliers to meet the projected demand as determined by the uptake of the vaccination in the previous year. This year, largely as a result of media attention on the subject of 'flu there has been a 50 per cent increase in the demand for influenza vaccination in certain areas. For instance, approximately 10,500 doses of vaccine were provided by the Eastern Health Board for the Dublin area in 1986 and demand in this area has not exceeded 11,000 doses in recent years. However, the Eastern Health Board has supplied over 15,000 doses this year to date and the normal stocks of the vaccine have been exhausted.
The Department is keeping in touch with the health boards about the situation with a view to ensuring that the Department's policy on influenza vaccination as notified to the health boards is implemented. Specific problems such as those mentioned by the Deputy would be examined in this context.