Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:
132
Ms O'Sullivan
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the current information available to his Department on fears of a flu epidemic during the winter months; the steps being taken to ensure that hospitals and health services generally will be in a position to cope with such an eventuality; if he has satisfied himself that there are sufficient doses of the vaccine available to deal with an epidemic and that they are of sufficient strength; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[27566/03]
Influenza is an acute viral respiratory illness. It is characterised by sudden onset of symptoms, which include a temperature of 38ºC or more with a dry cough, headache, sore muscles and sore throat. The cough is often severe and protracted, but otherwise the disease is self-limiting. While those who are in good health usually recover from influenza in two to seven days there are others for whom the disease is much more severe. In those with underlying diseases, especially the elderly, complications are common and hospitalisation rates are high.
Many respiratory diseases occur every winter but influenza is one of the most severe. The World Health Organisation estimates that influenza typically infects 10%-20% of the world population during seasonal epidemics, resulting in between three and five million cases of severe illness and at least 250,000 to 500,000 deaths each year worldwide.
There are three types of influenza virus, A, B and C. Influenza A generally causes the most severe form of the disease. Different strains of influ enza virus circulate worldwide each year and the influenza vaccine is updated to cover the strains that are likely to cause infection during the coming influenza season. Influenza A and B cause the majority of infections. The third type, influenza C, is rarely reported as a cause of human illness.
The National Disease Surveillance Centre, NDSC, in partnership with the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, and the Virus Reference Laboratory, VRL, have established a network of computerised general sentinel practices who report on a weekly basis the number of patients seen with influenza-like illness. As there is little difference in the presenting symptoms of a number of respiratory pathogens, virological confirmation is required to identify that influenza is the causative agent. The VRL can detect and identify if influenza A and-or B viruses are circulating. Following collection of the data a weekly influenza report is compiled by the NDSC. Reports of influenza activity in Europe and worldwide will also be provided as part of the overall monitoring of influenza activity.
Influenza activity levels are currently higher in Ireland than previously recorded for this time of year since influenza surveillance began in 2000. The NDSC has advised that during the week ended 9 November 2003 a significant increase in influenza activity was reported with 67 cases of influenza-like illness, ILI, being reported from sentinel general practice. This corresponds to a rate of approximately 74 per 100,000 population. By comparison the rate for the previous week was approximately 58 per 100,000. The majority of cases to date have been detected in children and young adults. There have been two large outbreaks of influenza A in schools in the eastern region in September this year. There have been no reported deaths from influenza in Ireland since the start of the current season.
On 5 November health authorities in the UK reported a number of deaths related to influenza A in children in the past two months. It is not known if this represents a genuine increase in deaths from influenza, as it may be related to new technologies that are used to detect the influenza virus.
Laboratory testing so far this year shows that the main strain circulating is influenza A, H3N2, Fujian-like strain. This is slightly different to the A, H3N2, Panama-like virus, which has been circulating in Europe in recent years. The current flu vaccine contains the Panama-like virus and is considered to offer some protection against the Fujian-like strain and good protection against other strains that may also circulate.
The impact of the influenza vaccine in reducing mortality from influenza in older people is well documented. Protection lasts about one year and, therefore, it is important that individuals who are at risk of contracting influenza are vaccinated annually against the current strains.
On 24 September this year I launched the 2003-04 influenza vaccination campaign which included an extensive promotion campaign on both national and local radio and in the national and local press. Approximately 470,000 doses of vaccine were distributed to health boards and general practitioners. The vaccine is available free of charge from general practitioners to medical cardholders who are deemed to be at risk of serious illness as a result of contracting the disease. Persons in the at risk group who do not have a medical card can obtain the vaccine free of charge, however, the fee for administering the vaccine in such cases is a matter between the general practitioner and the patient. The at risk group includes persons aged 65 years or older, those with specific chronic illness such as chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, and those with a suppressed immune system. For persons in the at risk groups, complications arising from influenza such as pneumonia are common and can be fatal particularly in the elderly. At the time of the launch a letter issued from my Department to all health board chief executive officers requesting that they prioritise the immunisation of health care workers against influenza.
Following receipt of information on the increase in the incidence of influenza-like illness, ILI, I have arranged for an additional 100,000 doses of vaccine to be made available. In addition a repeat of the national and local media campaign, which was run in September, has been arranged through the health boards executive in order to encourage those who are in the at risk group and who have not yet received the vaccine to do so immediately. Health board chief executive officers have been briefed and requested to put appropriate contingency arrangement in place to deal with the situation should the number of cases increase.
The key advice I am issuing is that all health care workers and individuals in the at risk group should ensure that they are immunised against influenza as soon as possible. The vaccines have already been distributed to health boards and general practitioners practices throughout the country. I would also urge general practitioners to ensure that the at risk patients in their practice are contacted and invited to attend for vaccination as soon as possible.
