First swine flu shots may be given in early October

Health care workers and pregnant women expected to be given priority

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Mass vaccinations against swine flu are expected to start in early October in Finland.
      Among the first to be administered the vaccine will be health care personnel and expectant mothers, says Tuija Leino head of the swine flu unit of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
     
Prenatal clinics have been told that the vaccine will become available either in the second or third week of October, and that women who are pregnant will probably be among the first to get it.
      Some clinics have made preparations by acquiring additional staff for the remaining months of the year.
      Tapani Melkas, a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, wondered on Thursday who has been informing the clinics about schedules, considering that the government has not even made an official decision on the matter.
      “Perhaps it is some kind of advance information from THL, so that they might be prepared.”
     
Melkas says that the manufacturer of the vaccine, GlaxoSmithKline, has said that it might start deliveries in late September or early October.
      “Then it would be appropriate for the government to issue a decree on starting the vaccinations at its meeting on September 24th; the distribution of the vaccine could begin the following week, if it is logistically possible.
      Melkas does not want to take a stand on who would be first in line to be vaccinated. “That is precisely what the government will decide”.
     
The matter is to be put forward to the government by the National Advisory Board on Health Care Ethics (ETENE), which has consulted with the national working group of vaccine specialists, and the advisory board on communicable diseases on the matter.
      Finland has ordered 5.3 million doses of the vaccine. The aim of GKS is to deliver the vaccine to Finland in consignments of 250,000 units each week for about five months until the whole population is vaccinated.
     
An application is currently pending with the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) for permission to sell the vaccine, but Finland can start administering it even if EMEA permission is delayed.
      Administering the vaccinations would be organised by Finland’s local authorities at maternity clinics, public health centres, and hospitals.
      Advertisements in local newspapers and posters are the most likely way that local authorities will inform citizens of the availability of the vaccine. Informing citizens individually by letter is seen as too slow and expensive.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Swine flu outbreak at Espoo day care centre (7.9.2009)
  Swine flu may cause decreased intensive care availability (2.9.2009)
  Swine flu may reduce number of available child-minders in Helsinki area (18.8.2009)
  H1N1 brings easier terms for sick leave (13.8.2009)

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