The vaccination programme for swine flu got off to a “good start” yesterday and is going well, the HSE said today.
More than 1,500 people received the vaccine yesterday at special clinics set up by the HSE as it officially began its national pandemic flu vaccination campaign.
Dr Pat Doorley, public health specialist with the HSE, said day one of the vaccination programme got off to a good start across the nation.
“While some individual GPs may have complaints about delivery of vaccine the HSE is working with all of the 2,300 GPs participating in the scheme to ensure steady supply to them.
“As part of this some 100,000 doses will be delivered this week and the same volume next week. Overall the response was very good and the roll out of the vaccination programme is going well.”
Dr Doorley yesterday appealed to those not in these at-risk groups not to present for vaccination now. Everyone would be vaccinated in time, but given there were limited supplies of vaccine at present at-risk patients had to be prioritised, he said.
The Irish Medicines Board said six adverse reactions to the new vaccine had been reported to it by 3pm but its medical director, Dr Joan Gilvarry, said these were expected and were things like soreness at the injection site or fever, events that would normally pass within 24 to 48 hours.