306,592 vaccinated against H1N1 influenza

Sat. 18-09-2010
THE Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate says it has vaccinated a total of 306,592 people against the H1N1 influenza as of July this year.
The figure comprise 26,687 health workers, 15,811 security personnel, 24,496 pregnant women, 18,836 persons with chronic diseases, 12,867 international travellers and 207,895 members of the public.
As part of the directorate’s efforts to educate the public on the safety of the vaccine, the regional team headed by the Co-ordinator on H1N1, Dr Vera Opata, reiterated in a report that the vaccine, Pandemrix, was highly safe by the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.
“Pandemrix is what is used to vaccinate people in foreign countries before it was exported to our country”, the reported stated.
To ensure an H1N1 free region, as well as a healthy country, the health service had entreated the public who had not yet received the vaccine to do so at the public hospitals where few of the vaccine were available.
It pointed out of the 306,592 people who had been vaccinated in the Greater Accra Region, 360 persons, making 0.1 per cent had reported any adverse effects.
The report went further to state that all the complaints were based on what was classified as the common side effects such as headache, fever and pain at the site of the injection.
“We are assuring the general public that the vaccine (Pandemrix) is highly safe. Several clinical studies were done to ensure its safety to human beings”, it pointed out.
The report however, explained that the vaccine was for individuals between the ages of 18 and 60, adding that people who had previously had sudden life threatening allergic reaction to certain items such egg and chicken protein, a chemical called formaldehyde, gentamicin sulphate ( a form of antibiotic), as well as soduim deoxycholate should avoid the vaccine.
It also that stated people suffering from severe infection with high temperature (over 38 C) should postpone the vaccination till temperature subsides and also women in the first three months of pregnancy, as well as others who had once been infected with H1N1 influenza and had been treated were all excempted from the vaccination.
It pointed out that like all medicines, the vaccine could cause side effects, although not everybody got them.He went further to state that emergency treatment was available for use in case of individuals experiencing any form of reaction.
“Anybody who experiences any of the side effects should report to where he or she received the vaccination or the nearest health facility”, it pointed out.