Australia has been the hardest hit country in the Asia – Pacific region, with over 10 000 cases of swine flu confirmed. The real number is likely to be much higher as most of those affected are experiencing only mild symptoms so they are no longer seeking medical assistance or if they do, swabs aren’t being taken. Numbers of sufferers are likely to rise further during the southern hemisphere winter.
An order for 21 million courses of swine flu vaccine has been placed by Australia, however Dr Margret Chan, the WHO orangisations chief casts doubts that a vaccine will be available for at least another 2-3 months. She told the Guardian, “ there is no vaccine. One should be available soon, in August. But having a vaccine available is not the same as having a vaccine that is proven safe” She added that ‘clinical trial data would not be available for another 2 –3 months.”
On the 7th of July the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) held an extraordinary meeting to discuss recmomendations related to the vaccine for the pandemic (H1N1).
The expert panel identified 3 objectives that countries should adopt as part of their pandemic vaccination strategy:
1. Protect the integrity of the health-care system and the country's critical infrastructure;
2. Reduce morbidity and mortality; and
3. Reduce transmission of the pandemic virus within communities.
The following recommendations were provided to the WHO Director-General:
” - All countries should immunize their health-care workers as a first priority to protect the essential health infrastructure. As vaccines available initially will not be sufficient, a step-wise approach to vaccinate particular groups may be considered. SAGE suggested the following groups for consideration, noting that countries need to
determine their order of priority based on country-specific conditions: pregnant women; those aged above 6 months with one of several chronic medical conditions; healthy young adults of 15 to 49 years of age; healthy children; healthy adults of 50 to 64 years of age; and healthy adults of 65 years of age and above.”
Whilst most persons are experiencing self-limiting illnesses, some groups such as pregnant women, persons with asthma and other chronic conditions such as morbid obesity, appeared to be at an increased risk for disease.
The NSW Health director of communicable diseases has urged pregnant women to seek medical advice within 48 hours of developing flu-like symptoms. This comes in the wake of news that several pregnant women have been admitted to intensive care units for the management of swine flu complications. http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/16/2627934.htm