First batch of swine flu vaccine arrives

Hala Khalaf

• Last Updated: November 05. 2009 4:37PM UAE / November 5. 2009 12:37PM GMT

ABU DHABI // The first batch of H1N1 swine flu vaccine has arrived in the UAE, but details of who will be eligible to be vaccinated will not be revealed until the weekend.

The Ministry of Health confirmed yesterday that the vaccine had arrived last Saturday, but said no further information would be released until this Sunday. It gave no reason for the delay.

According to Huda al Shahin, of the National Committee for Combating Swine Flu, the ministry will also launch a media campaign to raise awareness of the vaccination programme on the same day.

“There will be international speakers to discuss the side effects of the vaccine and the importance of it, as well as a national initiative to launch the vaccination campaign,” said Ms al Shahin.

“We will explain who is top of our list to receive the vaccine and where they can go to get it.”

The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) said it had not received any information about the vaccine, produced by the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and the UK-based drugs manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, and was awaiting direction from the ministry.

“Yes, the vaccine has arrived, but only just recently,” said a staff member manning the Dubai Health Authority’s (DHA) swine flu hotline, who did not want to be named.

“We have had no updates from the [DHA] head office on what the next step will be.

“What we know is that the Ministry of Health will be handling the vaccine and they are the ones who will distribute it among the hospitals. Once that happens, we will then have the information.”

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has identified five target groups it says should be immunised as a priority.

These include pregnant women, children, healthcare workers, childcare workers such as teachers, and people who have existing medical conditions that make them more vulnerable to swine flu.

However, the US list does not take account of the special requirements of Haj pilgrims.

The huge number of people – about three million in a normal year, although fewer are expected this year – who make the pilgrimage from all over the world and then return to their home countries, present an ideal opportunity for the disease to spread, and is a challenge for authorities across the Muslim world, experts say.

In July, Middle Eastern health ministers announced that certain high-risk groups would be prevented from travelling to Mecca for this year’s Haj at the end of November.

To that end, the HAAD sent out text messages last month urging elderly people, pregnant women, children and those with chronic diseases not to undertake Haj or Umrah this year.

Egypt has said that its Haj pilgrims “must be vaccinated according to instructions and conditions of the Saudi health ministry”.

Saudi Arabia will begin a national vaccination campaign on Saturday and has said priority will be given to pilgrims and hospital staff. Kuwait has also said that those undertaking the Haj would be among the first to receive the jab. Reports have speculated that the UAE will make a similar ruling for its 6,200 pilgrims.

Next Monday, the preliminary team of the UAE’s official Haj mission will leave for Saudi Arabia to make arrangements for the Haj.

The mission will include a medical team that will equip clinics and pharmacies, and ascertain what Saudi Arabia’s regulations are regarding Haj pilgrims, including whether or not proof of swine flu vaccination will be required.

At his clinic in Amman, Jordan, Dr Iman al Jabi said there were reports that 100,000 doses of the vaccine arrived in Jordan yesterday.

“We were told that the Haj pilgrims will be the first to receive the vaccine, followed by the country’s entire medical community, according to their needs,” said Dr al Jabi.

hkhalaf@thenational.ae

Countries

Australia

Vaccinations began September 30
Priority patients Available to everyone over 10 years old
Doses ordered 21 million
Coverage 100 per cent
Issues In the Southern Hemisphere, flu season peaked two months ago, giving more time to administer vaccinations before the beginning of the next high-risk season

Canada

Vaccinations began October 12
Priority patients None
Doses ordered 50.4 million
Coverage 100 per cent with 17 million doses in reserve
Issues Shortages resulted in long queues. Alberta has temporarily closed its vaccination clinics and Ontario has asked those at low risk to postpone vaccination

United Kingdom

Vaccinations began October 21
Priority patients Hospital patients; some health staff and pregnant women
Doses ordered 132 million
Coverage 100 per cent with 66 million doses in reserve
Issues Notifications sent to high-risk patients but the ongoing postal strike could delay uptake