Labour Health Spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD has called for urgent action to address increasing hospital admissions as a result of a virulent flu season and low uptake of vaccination against influenza.
The Dublin Central TD has called for a targeted community vaccination campaign and for the Government to engage with European partners for future enhanced flu vaccine procurement.
Sherlock said she was “deeply concerned” by the significant pressure that is now being placed on hospitals as a result of an early flu season.
“Our acute hospital system is experiencing significant pressure which is projected to significantly increase in the coming weeks,” the Labour health spokesperson noted.
“Flu is not just a significant illness for older people. Alarmingly, 40% of hospitalisations from influenza are from those under 15 years old. However, the most recent report from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre shows that vaccine uptake for this cohort is 18.2% against a target of more than 50% uptake.”
“Consideration must now be given to a vaccination campaign within schools and early years settings by local pharmacies and public health nurses to target 2 to 17-year-olds through the nasal spray flu vaccine. Influenza vaccination must form part of the wider school vaccination campaign from next September.
She said “it is deeply worrying to me that the recent data for vaccine uptake for HSE healthcare workers is only 26% against at target of more than 75%. Healthcare workers are among the most exposed to the flu and work in settings with high levels of transmission.”
“Ensuring that healthcare workers can avail of the vaccine, administered and offered in their workplace, as well as ensuring leave for those workers who wish to access vaccination in their community is crucial to protecting public health and vulnerable populations.
“Vaccination is a crucial piece of the jigsaw in preventing hospitalisation. Many older people in Ireland have been unable to access an enhanced vaccine as recommended by HIQA. Ten EU/EEA and UK countries were identified by HIQA who fund an enhanced vaccine for some or all of the target population, yet Irish people are locked out as we are negotiating on procurement alone.
“It is clear to me that we need to change tack in how we negotiate for vaccines and medicines to ensure that Ireland can benefit from lower prices and ensure that our population is given the highest level of effective protection against the flu and to protect our hospital system.
“We need the Minister and the HSE to turn the tide on the influenza season. We need to see concrete action rather than pronouncements by ensuring widespread community vaccination through outreach and in-school and in-work vaccination campaigns.”