This article is from page 28 of the 2008-11-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 28 JPG
that prior to this, an average of 10 cases of this form of meningitis were reported to the HSE mid-west every year, with one death per annum.
The success of different vaccination programmes has depended on the uptake and that has often depended on associated published concerns.
Last September the HSE intro- duced a new childhood immunisa- tion for all babies born on or after July 1, 2008.
The additional vaccines in the new scheme, PCV and Hepatitis B, are aimed at protecting children against two serious diseases – Pneumococcal disease which can cause meningitis, septicaemia (blood poisoning) and pneumonia and Hepatitis B infection that affects the liver and can cause lifelong liver disease.
The Hepatitis B vaccine is given to children at two months as part of the new six-in-one vaccine. PCV is also given at two months and started in the UK last year.
Dr Fitzgerald explained that the vaccine has proved successful not only in the recipient but there was
“twice as much success in those not vaccinated”. In other words for every child vaccinated two more were con- sidered safe.
This vaccine is given only to those under two years of age with another form available to adults with a di- minished immune system.
The public health specialist also pointed out that vaccines have im- proved since they were first intro- duced.
BCG is not 100 per cent effective but is very good at preventing certain strains of TB.
2001 marked the lowest uptake of BCG, but the uptake is now at 97 per NMI D Kore hce
Dr Fitzgerald said that cases of TB could be attributed to its incubations orem (olen
“Incubation of TB could be dec- ades. Some of the cases today got TB when young,” she explained.
She said it was important that the population continue to avail of vac- orb ee
“People say these diseases are gone, that we don’t have cases but we do,’ she said.
“These are serious illnesses and there are vaccines to prevent them that work. One in 1,000 who get measles die in developed countries where you have good nutrition,” she warned.
“Nothing is 100 per cent safe but any difficulties you have with a vac- cine 1s much less than you have with the disease,’ she said.