BOOSTER CAMPAIGN: The Hib (Haemophilius Influenza type B) booster catch-up campaign has just started vaccinating one-year-old children.
Children aged two to three will be called for vaccination in January and February. The Hib vaccination is part of the one-in-five vaccination given to babies at two, four and six months. The Hib booster is now recommended for children who have already received these early vaccinations because a small number of cases of Hib disease have been found in children who had previously been vaccinated (41 cases out of 450,000 vaccinated children). See www.immunisation.ie or tel: 1850 24 1850 weekdays 9.30am-5pm.
BREASTFEEDING SERVICE: Many Irish mothers who start breastfeeding their newborn babies give up in the first few weeks due to lack of support and conflicting advice from healthcare professionals, family and friends. Lactation consultant and paediatric nurse Nicola O'Byrne has set up a private service to help and advise mothers on how to get through these difficult weeks to become happy breastfeeding mothers. Her Dublin-based service includes meeting the mother-to-be before the birth to prepare her for breastfeeding and then visiting her in her home. See www.breastfeedingsupport.ie or tel: 086 2312679.
STEM CELL CONFERENCE: Stem Cell Research: The Patient's Perspective, a conference in Brussels, Belgium on December 15th and 16th, is the first conference which aims to look at what patients know and think about stem cells. Seventy-five per cent of the audience will be patients from throughout Europe whose conditions could be improved or are already being improved by stem cell therapies and treatments. The conference is organised by the European Federation of Neurological Associations and funded by the European Commission. Admission is free. See www.erastepps2005.eu.com