The HSE has urged parents with children under the age of five to avail of the swine flu vaccine, as only a quarter of parents contacted by the executive have arranged vaccinations for their children so far.
Meanwhile, one adult male with an underlying health condition died of swine flu in the south of the country in the past week, bringing to 17 the number of deaths in the State resulting from the virus.
Dr Pat Doorley, national director of population health with the HSE, said today the low uptake amongst parents with children under five was a matter for concern due to the high rate of infection in that category.
“Those children who are not vaccinated are at risk of getting swine flu,” Dr Doorley said. “Children under five are a high priority group and…we are concerned that we are not getting a sufficient number of them vaccinated.”
Almost 150,000 letters have already been sent to date to around half of parents with children under the age of five. However, only 25 per cent have responded to the letter. Parents who have not received letters will do so in coming weeks.
While babies under six months are not to be vaccinated, the HSE is proposing that they issue invitations to their parents to get the whole family, including brothers and sisters, vaccinated.
Although the rate of infection in children under the age of five has fallen, it is still significantly higher than the national average. There are 290 cases of swine flu per 100,000 for children under five in comparison with 126.9 cases per 100,000 amongst the general population.
“We are still seeing significant rates of infection in children which is of concern to us,” Department of Health’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan said. “People are just not aware that the rates are still very high amongst children."
Meanwhile, vaccinations are to begin in primary and secondary schools next week. The programme is expected to take two months to complete.
Dr Doorley said most children will be vaccinated in the school setting. "Those who are attending small schools will be vaccinated either in bigger schools or, in a small number of cases, in mass vaccination clinics," he added.
A minimum of 240,000 people have received the swine flu vaccine across the country so far. There have been 368 reports of adverse reactions.