This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8155266.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Flu vaccinations 'in September' | Flu vaccinations 'in September' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A swine flu vaccination programme will start in September, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said. | A swine flu vaccination programme will start in September, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said. |
| Vaccines are expected to arrive in Northern Ireland in August. | Vaccines are expected to arrive in Northern Ireland in August. |
| Mr McGimpsey said the vaccines will be delivered on a phased basis and prioritisation will be necessary. | Mr McGimpsey said the vaccines will be delivered on a phased basis and prioritisation will be necessary. |
| Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride said health professionals were operating on a "worst case scenario" of 1,800 deaths, a figure which he emphasised was "not a prediction". | |
| "They are worst case scenario planning assumptions we've made to allow the public sector and businesses to plan for the impact of swine flu," he said. | |
| "There is no cause for panic - we have been planning for this situation for the last five years, we have had contracts in place for a vaccine should a pandemic occur and it is now being manufactured as we speak. | |
| "All organisations should be looking at these planning assumptions and think about their business continuity plans - in other words, how they keep the show on the road with significant absence rates perhaps of up to 12% or more of their workforce absent at any one time." | |
| We cannot be sure how the current pandemic will develop so it is essential that we prepare for the worst and hope that it does not happen Michael McGimpseyNI health minister | |
| Dr McBride said that despite increasing numbers of swine flu cases, the virus had not worsened in recent months. | |
| "We've got to bear in mind that in a very bad seasonal flu like the one in 1999/2000, we had somewhere in the region of 28,000 excess deaths across the UK," he said. | |
| "Normal seasonal flu, particularly with those who have underlying medical conditions, does unfortunately cause complications." | |
| A Pandemic Flu Service will be be activated in England next Thursday, but people in Northern Ireland should still contact their GP or the swine flu helpline if they are concerned. | A Pandemic Flu Service will be be activated in England next Thursday, but people in Northern Ireland should still contact their GP or the swine flu helpline if they are concerned. |
| The minister said it was clear the pandemic had resulted in varying levels of pressure on the health service across the UK. | The minister said it was clear the pandemic had resulted in varying levels of pressure on the health service across the UK. |
| "In Northern Ireland this has been a busier than normal period for our GPs especially considering that we are still in the summer months, however, our GPs and pharmacists are responding extremely well," said Mr McGimpsey. | |
| "Given the current numbers of flu consultations in Northern Ireland we feel the current arrangements remain the best way to get treatment to all those who need it as quickly as possible." | "Given the current numbers of flu consultations in Northern Ireland we feel the current arrangements remain the best way to get treatment to all those who need it as quickly as possible." |
| However, he added that the situation was being kept under review. | However, he added that the situation was being kept under review. |
| "We cannot be sure how the current pandemic will develop so it is essential that we prepare for the worst and hope that it does not happen. | "We cannot be sure how the current pandemic will develop so it is essential that we prepare for the worst and hope that it does not happen. |
| "The UK is one of the best prepared countries in the world for this pandemic," said Mr McGimpsey. | "The UK is one of the best prepared countries in the world for this pandemic," said Mr McGimpsey. |