Madam, – It is reported that the HSE has about 600,000 doses of swine flu vaccine in the State, and that 400,000 or so of these were prioritised for at-risk groups for GPs to vaccinate (HEALTHplus, November 10th).
If we take just three of the nine at-risk groups, ie all those aged under 65 years of age with asthma and those with diabetes, and pregnant females for whom data is readily available, it is clear that the HSE has grossly underestimated its vaccine requirements.
It is documented by the Asthma Society that there are more than 470,000 people with asthma in the State, of whom it can be estimated 413,000, irrespective of severity, are at risk of severe exacerbations from viral infections. An estimated 60,000 asthmatic children will require a second dose, as we have just been informed that all children under 13 years of age require a second vaccination.
It should be noted that these figures do not include other forms of respiratory disease such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which affects 110,000 people in Ireland and is the most common cause of disability in people under the age of 45. At least a further 1,100 of our young population have cystic fibrosis.
It has been estimated that 200,000 of our population have Type 2 diabetes (not including those on insulin). Data from the Midlands Diabetic Scheme has found that 43.6 per cent (87,200) of these are under 65 years of age.
At least a further 70,000 doses will be required for pregnant woman.
To vaccinate all those mentioned above would require 630,000 doses. This does not take into account all those in the remaining at-risk groups aged over 65 years (eg those with chronic heart, kidney, liver and neurological disease, immunosuppresion, morbid obesity and haemoglobinopathies), all of whom will also require two doses.
Most GPs and HSE clinics received their initial supply of vaccines only a few weeks ago. It is not possible that all those in the at- risk population have yet been vaccinated. If the HSE proceeds with its plans to vaccinate the 300,000 under-fives, and the 500,000 over-65s in their own clinics, as you reported, it is inevitable that GPs will experience a severe shortage of vaccines, and be unable to continue to vaccinate the at-risk groups. – Yours, etc,