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Yesterday it was announced that 2 million doses of H1N1 pandemic vaccine would be delivered by CSL to Australian public health officials late next week, and the hopes were to begin vaccinating `high risk’ individuals within `a few weeks’.
Immunization of the rest of the country is anticipated over the next few months.
With the winter flu season starting to recede, some doctors are now questioning the wisdom of `rushing’ into a vaccination program.
They point out that by the time these shots have been delivered to the arms of these high risk individuals, their flu season will be about over. There are also cross-contamination concerns over the use of multi-dose vials.
This report from ABC (Australian Broadcasting) News
Swine flu vaccine strategy 'risky'
By Dina Rosendorff for PM
The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases says there is no need for urgent mass vaccination.
The country's top infectious diseases body has written to the Government to warn the swine flu vaccine is being distributed too hastily, with too many risks for the public.
The Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases says the multi-dose vials which the vaccine will be distributed in have been shown to transmit infection, spread HIV and hepatitis, and even cause death.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says the Government expects to receive 2 million doses by the end of next week, and a widespread immunisation program could start by mid-September.
But the infectious diseases doctors say the swine flu threat has now passed and there is no need for urgent mass vaccination.
"To rush to a massive vaccination using multi-dose vials that have been associated with problems in the past, seems too hasty and perhaps not measured enough for our society," said Dr Tom Gottlieb, the president of the Australasian Society for Infectious Diseases.
The doctors are worried about the method that will be used to deliver the swine flu vaccine when the national immunisation program starts in the next few weeks.
The plan is to use multi-dose vials of the vaccine, which means a health worker will use needles to take more than one dose out of each vial.
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