A vaccination programme for vital staff and at risk groups began in the Island last week.

A DHSS spokesman said: 'A member of staff at Noble's Hospital who received the swine flu vaccination became ill the following day. The immediate question was whether the illness was related to the vaccine.

'After taking advice from the Swedish Medical Protection Agency which has reported encountering similar problems in those who received the H1N1 vaccination, it became clear that this could be a rare side effect of the vaccine. The Swedish Authorities have informed us that patients with this reaction have made a complete recovery from such conditions.

'Initially, as a precautionary measure, we decided to postpone some of the appointments for the swine flu vaccination to enable us to seek expert advice.

As we have now been reassured by the information and expert advice we have received, the vaccination programme will continue as planned on Monday.'

A three-week vaccination programme for front line and irreplaceable health and social care workers was launched.

On Monday, director of public health Dr Parameswaran Kishore announced the vaccine had arrived in the Island.

He explained that although this vaccine has not been clinically trialled for side effects, it is simply a previously licensed flu vaccine with the old strain of flu replaced by the H1N1 swine flu strain.

And he said: 'The UK started their vaccination programme on October 15 and no serious side effects have been reported.

'Sweden has used the vaccine for a long time and has already given one million doses. Again reports there suggest just pain and swelling in the arm or psychological reactions. So we can feel confident that this vaccine doesn't have any serious side effects.'

Islanders eligible for the swine flu vaccine are:

• All those aged over six-months and in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups


• All pregnant women


• People in household contact with immune-compromised patients


• Those eligible for the jab will be informed by their local GP when it is available for them.

There are two makes of the vaccination. Although most people will get the vaccine manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, the Baxter vaccine, which contains fewer chemicals, will be given to pregnant women and those with an egg allergy.

There is a small risk of complications for pregnant women who get swine flu –especially those in their third trimester – but this is very rare.
Unlike the UK, the Island is not offering the vaccine to all under-fives.

'But that doesn't mean we aren't going to,' he said. 'We have to keep a very close eye on this process. Assuming everything goes well we will vaccinate the at risk groups first and then consider other groups.

He explained: 'Over the weekend there were only two new referrals so the size of our problem is a lot less than what's happening in the UK.

'Because the UK has had many more cases there was a need to speed everything up there. But here we can roll out the programme and see how it goes.'

Department of Health and Social Security staff being vaccinated are:

• Those working with patients where swine flu may be undiagnosed and the workers need protection e.g. A & E


• Those who may pass on swine flu to patients with chronic diseases


• Those who are difficult to replace if they get swine flu e.g. the Island's only cardiologist.

This week qualifying staff at Nobles Hospital will be vaccinated, next week the jab will be offered to those within primary care and the following week care staff will receive the vaccine.

Director of DHSS occupational health and safety service Dr Carole Astbury is in charge of vaccinating selected government health and care staff.

She said: 'We can't force our staff to have the vaccine and some might have had swine flu already and therefore not need it, but the more staff we can immunise the better. If we do get a pandemic it will mean our services would be less affected.

'We are hoping to get 1,000 to 1,500 staff vaccinated. And if we have any vaccine left we will then extend it to other health and social care staff.'

Full figures for the number of swine flu cases are not available as the Island has moved into the treatment phase so patients are no longer actually tested unless they are admitted to hospital with complications.

But prior to the Island moving from a containment phase to a treatment phase at the end of September, there were 56 confirmed cases of H1N1.

Since then, there have been 48 suspected cases of swine flu tested on admission to Noble's Hospital of which 20 were confirmed to have the H1N1 virus.

For more information about the vaccine visit www.gov.im/swineflu