Northern Ireland Doctors Welcome Swine Flu Vaccination Programme Announcement- British Medical Association

Main Category: Swine Flu
Also Included In: Flu / Cold / SARS;  Public Health;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 16 Sep 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Further to the announcement by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey that a UK wide deal has been agreed regarding administration of the vaccine this autumn, Dr Brian Dunn, Chairman of the BMA's Northern Ireland GP committee said,

"GPs in Northern Ireland are pleased that agreement has now been reached regarding the pandemic 'flu vaccination programme.

"We can now start the process of ensuring the vaccination of priority groups, including frontline healthcare staff, once the vaccine has been approved and we have received it.

It has been agreed with government that GP practices throughout the four nations will receive £5.25 per dose of vaccine. This fee was agreed as it will cover the expenses incurred by practices in administering the vaccination programme. GPs will not make profit from this payment.

Dr Dunn added,

"This payment per dose of vaccine will be used, for example, to pay for staff to work extra hours as necessary to ensure that the vaccination programme proceeds as planned. In addition, practices will need to write to patients in the priority groups at least twice to invite them for the two vaccinations, and this payment will help to offset these costs".

BMA(NI) would like to remind members of the public that if they have flu-like symptoms, they need to stay at home and phone their GP. Travelling to a busy GP surgery will only spread the virus further.

Straightforward measures to help reduce the spread of flu include:

- Always use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when sneezing
- Dispose of the tissue
- Wash your hands with soap and water or sanitising gel

The message is simple, Catch It, Bin It, Kill It.

Source
British Medical Association Northern Ireland

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