Swine Flu Vaccine - official message from Student Health Service UCC
As you will no doubt be aware from the coverage in the media, the number of Swine ‘Flu cases continue to rise. One important step in helping limiting the spread of the Pandemic is the roll-out of an effective vaccination campaign. The Student Health Department is ready to provide the H1N1 Swine ‘Flu vaccine on-campus.
Please consult the UCC Influenza site for further details http://www.ucc.ie/en/flu/vaccine/ (Students who seek sought your advice should be directed to go this webpage for information)
The Student Health Department is to be provided with limited supplies of vaccine to administer to AT-RISK GROUPS ONLY.
The priority will be to offer this vaccine to students who have identified themselves as belonging to one of the at-risk groups.
I am also very keen to offer the vaccine to any UCC staff member who believes that they belong to the one of the at-risk groups, if the HSE provide sufficient supplies of the vaccine.
I believe that we will be given adequate quantities to allow this to happen, but the HSE are not in a position to guarantee this at this stage. (We are expecting 500 doses to be delivered by 02/11/2009 and further deliveries will occur every 2 weeks)
We are proceeding to organise mass vaccination clinics for the at-risk groups, commencing Wednesday the 4th of November, and to help plan these clinics we need to an estimate as to the number of staff who wish to avail of the vaccine on site in UCC. The vaccine will be provided free of charge, and current advice is that only one dose is needed, although that is under review.
If you are a UCC staff member, and you wish to receive the Swine ‘Flu vaccine and you belong to one of the following clinically at-risk groups, please register for inclusion in the vaccination programme in UCC by forwarding your details to the Student Health Department via the link below. Those who register will be kept informed via e-mail.
(Please note you may also contact your family doctor to ascertain if he/she is participating in the immunisation programme)
Risk Group- Those under 65 with the following conditions;
Ø Long-term Lung Disease including Asthma
Ø Pregnant women from 14 weeks pregnant to 6 weeks after giving birth
Ø Long-term Heart Disease (excluding isolated hypertension-high blood pressure)
Ø Long-term Kidney or Liver Disease
Ø Long-term Neurological Disease (like MS or Cerebral Palsy)
Ø Immunosuppression due to Disease or Treatment
Ø Haemoglobinopathies
Ø Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
Ø Obesity (Body Mass Index > 40)
Please copy and paste the link below into your internet browser if you belong to one of the above high risk groups.
http://www.ucc.ie/en/hr/equality-wellbeing/health/PandemicH1N12009/HighRiskGroups/ Then click the NOTIFY button and complete the details including your staff number.
I believe it is important not to be complacent about this Pandemic, and all reasonable precautions should be taken to limit the spread of this virus
Regards
Dr Michael. Byrne
Head of Student Health Service
University College Cork
Medical Council Registration Number 11130
Telephone: 021 4902311
Fax: 021 4903222
