Public need not panic:

AH1N1 vaccine only for high risk group

by Ananda Kannangara

The Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry yesterday warned the public that the AH1N1 vaccine should be administered only to those with specific chronic medical conditions. The vaccine is available only at government hospitals.

Senior Epidemiologist Dr. Sudath Peiris told the Sunday Observer yesterday that the public need not panic over this vaccine and it should be given only to those in the high risk group in the country.

Pregnant mothers, people with chronic lung and heart diseases and those with a low immunity such as cancer and diabetes must be immunised for AH1N1 influenza on medical advice. He said that the other symptoms of this disease are a prolonged period of cold, cough, flu and breathing difficulties and those who have these symptoms must seek immediate medical attention.

Dr. Peiris denying some recent media reports said that there was no shortage of the AH1N1 vaccine at any hospital or state run medical centres in the country since the Government has already airlifted 1.2 million phials of vaccines from the World Health Organisation. He said patients should also be aware that all hospitals in the country are provided with adequate stocks of vaccine to treat AH1N1 patients. During the past 12 months, over 300 AH1N1 infected patients have been diagnosed at countrywide Government hospitals and the influenza has claimed 22 lives from all parts of the country.

The Education Ministry has also directed school authorities countrywide to follow the instructions of area medical officers whether the vaccine should be administered to schoolchildren after the new school term begins tomorrow.