Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine finally in Belize

Dr. Michael Pitts

Since the scare in 2009 of the H1N1 virus not much has been heard of the influenza.  In fact, at last count the Ministry of Health reported forty-seven confirmed cases, but luckily there was no need for panic. That’s because the virus has turned out to be just another type of the flu, one that affects mainly the respiratory system.  It can however, be fatal for people who already have complications, such as asthma, bronchitis, HIV/AIDS or acute illnesses. And that is why the Ministry of Health called a news conference today, to inform that they have acquired a sufficient supply of the recently developed vaccine mainly to keep essential public workers H1N1 resistant before the next wave of the flu in October. But as Marion Ali found out, the rest of the populace will also have access to the vaccine at an affordable price.

Marion Ali, Reporting

The announcement by Director of Health Services, Dr. Michael Pitts,, and a team of health officials that the Government purchase of eight thousand vaccines for the H1N1 virus was not intended to cause any scare.  They said that the stock was obtained if there’s a threat of H1N1.  But the medicine is earmarked mainly for people who fall in the priority group one, which covers essential workers or first line responders.

Dr. Michael Pitts, Dir., Health Services, Min. of Health

“The first line responders basically will look at three or four principal categories: healthcare workers, immigration officers, Customs, B.D.F. and police. And the reason for that, if you think back when the disease was coming into the country, you noticed we had an interest of what was happening at the border points and you here’s where the Customs and Immigration interface with a large population group that is mostly external to the country.”

Teachers and people with acute complications were not included in the first priority group but it does not mean they have been ignored.

Dr. Michael Pitts

“In H1N1 or any other pandemic situation you look and you say well, critically you need nurses to help teachers.  So if you had one dose, who would you give out of the two?  In our plan we have projected and we believe that in time with about eight hundred thousand additional dollars we should be able to cover.  We begin to look at pregnant women, people with underlying chronic diseases.  We look at what is happening with children with Aids over six months, we look certainly within the age group fifteen to forty-nine which is where the disease started really.”

While the medicine was allocated mainly for essential workers, it is not mandatory for people to take it.  But for those who refuse it for fear of side effects, Pitts there need not be any major worry.

Dr. Michael Pitts

“Its voluntary so people can opt out, they have a right to opt out.  People have different sensibility. The risks are fairly minimal.  Most of those things are associated with the general localized signs and symptoms which are really pain, sometimes pain at the site, headaches which is a generalized symptom, and sometime redness in the area.  There are very few extreme events. With this particular vaccine we give one dose and it offers the immunity protection for life.  I think a lot of care was taken to make sure the active ingredient is safe and the vehicles that carry the vaccine are safe.  This one has a lot of good features.  We have gotten it through support from PAHO and we feel confident that the risks are very, very minimal.”

The vaccine is a preventative approach for H1N1 as opposed to the reactive antiviral treatment called Tamiflu which health officials over use to treat people already infected with H1N1.  It is administered in the muscle and is a once in a lifetime treatment.  Marion Ali for News Five.

The vaccine is made in France and the first batch came at a cost of a hundred and twenty thousand dollars to government at an individual of fifteen dollars per dose.  If you would like to get your shot at a private hospital, Pitts says the price should not be exorbitant.  Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health hotline is still operational twenty four, seven to attain information.  That number is 629 5604.