No change in vaccination schedule over swine flu deaths

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The two Finnish fatalities from swine flu are not affecting the schedule of administering the vaccinations for the H1N1 virus.
      “The order in which the vaccine is being administered has been drawn up carefully in such a way that those with the greatest risk of complications are in front”, says Terhi Kilpi, head of the vaccine department of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL).
      According to a national estimate by THL, the vaccination of children aged 6-35 months are to begin on Monday, November 16th, and those aged 3-24 years will get their shots starting a week later. Local authorities are administering the vaccinations at their own pace.
      Kilpi says that the vaccine has started coming into Finland in bigger consignments than before. She expects that at least in some communities, young children can start getting their vaccinations earlier than originally estimated.
     
The cause of death of an 8-year-old girl who died at home in the northern city of Tornio on Monday was confirmed yesterday as pneumonia caused by swine flu.
      The girl had received medical attention for her symptoms.
      Minister of Social Services Paula Risikko (Nat. Coalition Party) did not want to speculate on Wednesday on how reliably health care functioned in the case.
      “This was very sad and shocking news, and I express my condolences to the girl’s next of kin. We did not want to see this, and we have done everything to prevent this from happening”, Risikko said.
     
The girl did not have any underlying diseases. THL says that she died after being ill for less than a week. The rapid progression of the disease suggests that the virus was the cause of death.
      THL research professor Petri Ruutu seeks to reassure the parents of young children. He notes that deaths from swine flu are rare. He urges parents to acquaint themselves in advance with how the disease progresses.
      A healthy child who catches the disease should be seen by a doctor especially if there is a relapse after the symptoms first ease. A child with an underlying disease that puts him or her in a high-risk group should be taken to a doctor as soon as flu symptoms emerge.
      The most common cause of death linked with swine flu is pneumonia caused by the virus, which usually breaks out within a week of the first symptoms.
     
It has been estimated in Finland that the swine flu could cause a few dozen deaths. The girl in Tornio is the second death in Finland that is linked with the H1N1 virus.
      The virus has already spread throughout the country. Laboratory tests have confirmed about 1,000 cases of the disease, but Terhi Kilpi believes that the real number of infections is likely to be ten times that amount.
      The nationwide epidemic is still in its early stages. The situation is worst in the north of Finland, and it is expected to spread throughout the country in about two weeks. Risikko says that fewer than 100 people have been hospitalised, and less than ten of them are in intensive care.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Swine flu spreading in south of Finland (4.11.2009)
  Oulu swine flu death not affecting scheduling of H1N1 vaccine (27.10.2009)
  Swine flu shots found to cause mild symptoms of disease (22.10.2009)

Helsingin Sanomat