Issue - meetings

The Committee has been receiving regular updates on the situation regarding Pandemic Flu. There has been a national decline in cases of Swine Flu but the Department of Health has advised there could be a mini peak this month.

Fiona Field, Director of Governance and Strategic Planning at Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust, will verbally update the Committee on the latest position in relation to Pandemic Flu.

Fiona Field, Director of Governance and Strategic Planning at Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT), briefed the Committee on the current position with Pandemic Flu. 

She explained that within the PCT patch there were 34 Anti Viral Collection Points as a number of Community Pharmacists were now offering this service.  The number of cases of Pandemic Flu was now decreasing and to date 4000 doses of anti viral medication had been issued within the PCT patch.  It was expected that there would be a second wave during the Autumn/Winter.

The programme of mass vaccination was likely to begin around Christmas time with certain groups of people being classed as a priority:

      Pregnant women;

      People with chronic illnesses;

      Those who were front line staff in health and social care.

The vaccination would comprise two injections given a certain length of time apart.

The PCT would be seeking venues in which to offer the vaccination as primary care premises would not be adequate for the large numbers of people attending.  It was also important to try to make arrangements for people who worked during the day so as to minimise disruption.

The Committee was advised that the United Kingdom had a good track record of thorough testing of drugs and the only known reaction to the vaccination was soreness in the arm that received the injection.

RESOLVED:  that the update report be received.