28 September 2009
A vaccination programme for the Island has been agreed by the ministers who meet regularly to discuss Jersey’s response to the swine flu pandemic.
The first consignment of swine flu vaccine has arrived in Jersey and 6,600 doses are now in storage. This particular vaccine has not yet been licensed by the drug regulators, but as soon as the licence is finalised the vaccination programme will begin. Doses of the vaccine Pandemrix, which has been licensed, are already on order.
Phase 1 of the programme will offer vaccination to pregnant women, people with underlying medical conditions, household contacts of patients whose medical conditions particularly compromise their immune system and health care workers.
GPs will offer vaccination at their surgeries to people with underlying medical problems and the household contacts of those whose immune systems are significantly suppressed. Nurses will offer the vaccine to health care workers and pregnant women. More doses of the vaccine are due to arrive in the forthcoming weeks and months, and eventually all Islanders will be offered vaccination.
Senior health clinicians have devised the programme, using information and expertise from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the UK Department of Health and various other national health organisations. A collection of local health intelligence has also been used to guide medical decision making.
The programme is being spear-headed and organised by Dr Linda Diggle who is a specialist in immunisation. She said: “Our initial aim in devising a vaccination programme for Jersey has been to prevent illness in those who are most likely to develop complications and suffer severe disease. And by offering vaccination to those who provide healthcare, we hope to reduce the risk of transmission from healthcare staff to patients and also from patients to staff. This will ensure as far as possible that health care services can continue to be delivered.
“I would like to reassure Islanders of the safety of this vaccine. Flu vaccines have been around since the 1940s, adapted each year for different strains of seasonal flu. In the 60 years of their use, serious side effects have been rare. This vaccine against swine flu has been produced using the same technology that is used for seasonal flu. Its licensing is being fast-tracked, but the WHO is ensuring that the safety and quality of the new vaccine is not compromised.”
The Medical Officer of Health, Dr Rosemary Geller, said: "We have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the pandemic-specific H1N1 vaccine for some time. This first delivery of vaccine gives us a real chance of preventing some people getting flu altogether. But it will be some months before we receive enough vaccine for everyone, so it is imperative that we all continue to follow the 'Catch it. Bin it. Kill it.' hygiene measures so we can reap benefit from the forthcoming vaccination programme."
The Chief Minister, Senator Terry Le Sueur, said: “I am pleased that the containment phase we are promoting here in Jersey is working. This gives us hope that we can keep the virus at bay until at least the more vulnerable among us have been vaccinated. We do need to remain vigilant though, if we are to keep cases of flu to a minimum over the peak winter period.”
The details of the vaccine delivery will be refined in the coming weeks.
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