MORE THAN half of those who have died from swine flu in the State so far were over 45 years of age, new figures show.
Most of those who have died were in the 55-64 year age range but two were over 65 years, which is the group considered to have some immunity to the pandemic virus. Therefore they were not included in the first priority group for vaccination.
The new data on deaths to date has been compiled by the national Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Their analysis is based on the 14 deaths from swine flu which had been reported in the Republic up to the end of last week.
The age breakdown for those who have died so far indicates there have been no deaths among 0-4 year olds; one death among 5-14 year olds; two deaths among 15-24 year olds; no deaths among 25-34 year olds; three deaths among 35-44 year olds; two deaths among 45-54 years olds; four deaths among 55-64 year olds and two deaths among those aged 65 years and over.
All deaths so far have been of people with underlying medical conditions.
The new figures are noteworthy because they show that while children under four years have had the highest rates of infection with swine flu in recent weeks, no children under four have died from the virus. Furthermore, while only 17 of the 665 people hospitalised to date with swine flu were aged over 65 years, there have been two deaths from the virus among this age group.
The situation appears to be similar to what is happening elsewhere across Europe.
The Health Service Executive announced on Monday that it will soon begin offering the swine flu vaccine to people aged over 65 at its special vaccination clinics. “People aged 65 and over will begin to be invited over the coming fortnight,” it said.
This week it will begin writing to the parents of children under five years to offer them the vaccine. It also plans to begin vaccinating the 800,000 to 900,000 children in primary and secondary schools from November 23rd onwards.
Meanwhile, healthcare workers will also start getting the vaccine in hospitals this week. All hospitals are now urging the public not to visit hospitals unless absolutely necessary to prevent the spread of swine flu.
The Meningitis Research Foundation has again urged people to remember that the early symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia are similar to those of flu.
“As cases of swine flu increase, meningitis cases may be missed,” it said. The warning came amid reports a five-year-old girl from Dublin is seriously ill in hospital having been mistakenly diagnosed with swine flu when she has meningitis.