Lewis-fuller

The Ministry of Health is now in discussions with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) to procure the H1N1 vaccine for distribution in Jamaica.

Head of health promotion and protection in the Ministry of Health, Dr Eva Lewis-Fuller, told The Gleaner yesterday that the ministry was going through the normal mechanisms to secure the flu shots for the island.

"The ministry does have a plan to procure vaccine, especially for those at particular risk, those at the front line of the medical system, those with compromised immune system and pregnant women," Lewis-Fuller said.

She, however, did not say when the vaccine would be available in the island and how much would be available, as that was still being calculated.

"Vaccines in general that we use are procured for us through the WHO/PAHO system. We have asked for the vaccines for H1N1 through this system as well," she added.

Lewis-Fuller said PAHO would be distributing the vaccines on a regional basis and that Jamaica would benefit from economies of scale.

Available next year

At a media global conference yesterday, representatives from pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline told journalists that its company had developed a vaccine and would be distributing it to the WHO and PAHO for distribution to countries across the world. The company revealed that the vaccine would be available to the region in the first quarter of next year.

Lewis-Fuller said the ministry was still working out a schedule on how the vaccine would be rolled out, but that priority would be given to health workers and those considered as high risk.

This group includes pregnant women, children under five years old and persons with chronic illnesses such as asthma, obesity, diabetes and hypertension, heart disease or any condition that impairs the immune system.

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com