BOTH THE Minister for Health Mary Harney and the HSE have been accused of failing to recognise the health risks posed by TB after it emerged that almost 10,000 newborn babies and toddlers are awaiting vaccination in Cork.
The claim came from Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central Deirdre Clune after she raised the issue in the Dáil by calling on Ms Harney to clarify what plans she has to reduce the waiting list of the 9,654 newborn babies and toddlers.
“When I questioned the Minister on the crisis, I was told that there are no immediate plans to take action to resolve this problem,” said Ms Clune.
“This answer totally ignores the fact that in the HSE South area in 2006 there were 96 TB cases and in 2007 there were 110, including 15 children and two adults who were infected following two TB outbreaks in Cork creches this time last year,” she added.
Just last month, Cllr Tim Lombard of Fine Gael and Cllr Catherine Clancy of Labour raised the issue at the HSE South Regional Forum with Cllr Clancy pointing out that earlier this year, there was an incidence of TB at one of the biggest schools in the city.
Assistant National Director South of the Primary Community and Continuing Care Director, Pat Healy told the forum that the practice in Cork for a number of years had been to offer the BCG vaccine to newborns at risk of developing TB as opposed to all newborns.
“Those at risk would include babies whose parents or siblings have a history of TB, whose parents work in a healthcare setting with patients affected by TB or whose parents come from countries where there is a high incidence of TB,” he said
With the establishment of the HSE, the practice in Cork was reviewed and a commitment was given by HSE South that all newborn babies in Cork would, from October 2007, be routinely offered the BCG vaccine against TB, said Mr Healy.
Arrangements were being put in place to provide the vaccine at additional clinics as well as Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), but technical difficulties at the manufacturer’s laboratory led to a shortage of supply in Ireland and across Europe last October, he said.
Although some vaccine was in stock, the shortage in supply meant that clinics were not held from November/December 2007 and, although the issue has now been resolved, the waiting list swelled in the interim to some 9,654 at the beginning of April, he added.
Mr Healy said new arrangements were at an advanced stage and entailed offering the BCG vaccine to newborns at CUMH from autumn, as well as establishing additional clinics in Cork to help those waiting.