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Fiji’s health ministry will soon embark on a pandemic Influenza A H1N1 vaccination campaign.
This after yesterday’s arrival of 80,000 dozes of Panvax H1N1 vaccine that will allow the ministry to respond to the global Influenza A H1N1 pandemic and protect those most vulnerable to infection.
Health spokesman Iliesa Tora said the vaccine will be used first to protect all health care workers and support staff to ensure there is no disruption to health care services in Fiji.
According to Tora, the primary objective of the pandemic Influenza A H1N1 vaccination campaign 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, who are 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 immunocompromised and children attending a special school).”
At the end of this time vaccine stock will be assessed and the upper age limit revised if stock allows, Tora said.
Fiji will require about 87,000 doses of Influenza A H1N1 vaccine to vaccinate the target groups mentioned.
The vaccine was secured with the aid of the World Health Organization, AUSAID, UNICEF and JICA.
It has also been confirmed that the total cost of the budget required is $249,651 of which the Government will contribute 3.5 per cent.
