Fiji Gets 80,000 Doses Of Vaccine In National Swine Flu Fight

Suva, Fiji (AHN) – The arrival of 80,000 doses of Panvax H1N1 vaccine for the Influenza A H1N1 will allow Fiji’s health ministry to respond to the global swine flu crisis.

Health spokesman Iliesa Tora said the vaccine will also help to protect those most vulnerable to infection.

The vaccine was made possible through the joint assistance of the World Health Organization, AUSAID, UNICEF and JICA.

According to Tora, the primary goal of the pandemic Influenza A-H1N1 vaccination campaign in Fiji is to save lives and protect those most at risk of serious infection with this new virus.

“The remaining doses will be distributed to those with chronic conditions, who are at most risk of severe outcomes from influenza – those aged between 10 (to be reduced to 2 years once clinical trial results are released in the coming weeks) and 40 years, and who attend the health care service for their condition during the month of March 2010 (including diabetes, chronic diseases including respiratory diseases, cardiac, neurological, liver, renal, those who are immuno-compromised and children attending a special school),” Tora said.

“At the end of this time vaccine stock will be assessed and the upper age limit revised if stock allows,” he added.

Fiji, he added, will require about 87,000 doses of Influenza A H1N1 vaccine to vaccinate target groups.Total cost is budgeted at $249,651.

“The priority target group will be healthcare workers including village health workers, nursing stations, health centers, subdivisional hospitals and divisional and specialized hospitals,” Tora said.

Vaccine will be offered to the entire Ministry of Health establishment including, but not limited to, all nurses, doctors, ward assistants, cooks, domestic, administrative and maintenance staff.

In addition, the vaccine will be offered to medical and nursing students at the Fiji School of Medicine, Fiji School of Nursing and general practitioners and private hospital staff.

Tora said it is anticipated that by protecting the health care workforce at large, the impact of the second wave of influenza A H1N1 pandemic on health care services will be minimized.

Tora confirmed that since the government recognized this campaign as one of public health importance, it will contribute 3.5 percent of the total funding.

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