Swine flu vaccine for high-risk Health Department staff

Manmeet Singh Gill

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 29

The Health Department has made available immunisation vaccines against swine flu to high-risk employees who generally attend to suspected and confirmed cases of swine flu coming to the health facilties in the district for treatment.

The department has received around 60 vaccines which would be given to the employees who are at high risk. As the employees attending to swine flu patients are at the risk of contracting the infection, the department has taken the step which would reduce the apprehensions of the medical staff getting infected.

Though the department has been providing these vaccines to such employees in the district, it was only after the swine flu cases were reported. This year, however, no confirmed case of swine flu has been reported so far in the district. Cases have been reported in other districts, but Amritsar district has remained free of any such occurrence.

On two occasions, the department even asked for vaccines from private hospitals so that their employees too could be immunised against the infection. However, this year, no such instructions have been issued to the private hospitals.

An official of the Health Department said, “Generally, the vaccines are received after much hue and cry. But this year, the vaccines are being provided despite no case being reported. It would help in boosting the confidence of the health staff and they will not hesitate in dealing with such cases.”

Sources in the department said the vaccines would be given to the medical staff as well as safai sewaks who are usually responsible for maintaining hygiene in isolation wards for the swine flu patients. District health authorities said no confirmed case of swine flu has been reported but they are keeping a close watch on the situation.

Civil Surgeon Dr Narinder Kaur said the safety of the medical staff was of utmost importance and the department was making efforts in this regard.