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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Flu jab for special needs staff | Flu jab for special needs staff |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The NI Health Minister has said he is to extend the swine flu vaccination to some staff working at special schools. | The NI Health Minister has said he is to extend the swine flu vaccination to some staff working at special schools. |
| Those staff who provide personal care for pupils at the schools will be offered the vaccine from this week. | Those staff who provide personal care for pupils at the schools will be offered the vaccine from this week. |
| Special needs pupils were among those who received the first dose of the vaccine, but there had been calls for staff to get priority vaccinations too. | Special needs pupils were among those who received the first dose of the vaccine, but there had been calls for staff to get priority vaccinations too. |
| The minister, Michael McGimpsey, said he believed the move will "further protect this vulnerable group". | The minister, Michael McGimpsey, said he believed the move will "further protect this vulnerable group". |
| From this week, arrangements have also been made for other children with special needs and underlying physical health conditions, who are not in special schools to be offered the vaccine. | From this week, arrangements have also been made for other children with special needs and underlying physical health conditions, who are not in special schools to be offered the vaccine. |
| On Monday Mr McGimpsey said: "GPs will now begin to prioritise our supplies of the swine flu vaccination to ensure those most at risk are protected first. | On Monday Mr McGimpsey said: "GPs will now begin to prioritise our supplies of the swine flu vaccination to ensure those most at risk are protected first. |
| Reassurance | |
| "The swine flu vaccination programme remains the best way to protect the most vulnerable people in our society. I would encourage all those who are offered the vaccine to get it." | "The swine flu vaccination programme remains the best way to protect the most vulnerable people in our society. I would encourage all those who are offered the vaccine to get it." |
| He added that staff who provided personal care to children within special schools were doing "similar work" to frontline health and social care workers who are also a priority group. | He added that staff who provided personal care to children within special schools were doing "similar work" to frontline health and social care workers who are also a priority group. |
| "I have asked the Public Health Agency to make arrangements to offer vaccines to this group of staff as quickly as possible," he said. | "I have asked the Public Health Agency to make arrangements to offer vaccines to this group of staff as quickly as possible," he said. |
| The chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said the latest move on vaccines would provide some reassurance for parents and staff. | The chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said the latest move on vaccines would provide some reassurance for parents and staff. |
| Dr Michael McBride says the vaccines will provide reassurance | Dr Michael McBride says the vaccines will provide reassurance |
| "This is something which I broadly welcome and which I am sure parents broadly welcome," he added. | "This is something which I broadly welcome and which I am sure parents broadly welcome," he added. |
| "We recognise that many of those staff are involved in similar sort of care that frontline healthcare workers provide in terms of assistance with feeding and toileting etc. | "We recognise that many of those staff are involved in similar sort of care that frontline healthcare workers provide in terms of assistance with feeding and toileting etc. |
| "It is important that we afford those children and young people that extra protection." | "It is important that we afford those children and young people that extra protection." |
| Vaccines | Vaccines |
| Mr McGimpsey said there was currently a limited supply of vaccines and the first priority was to protect those most at risk from the complications of swine flu. | Mr McGimpsey said there was currently a limited supply of vaccines and the first priority was to protect those most at risk from the complications of swine flu. |
| "This is why 2,500 children in over 20 special schools for severe learning disability across Northern Ireland were offered the vaccine as a matter of urgency last week," he said. | "This is why 2,500 children in over 20 special schools for severe learning disability across Northern Ireland were offered the vaccine as a matter of urgency last week," he said. |
| "This is now largely completed." | "This is now largely completed." |
| It is understood that four of the ten people from Northern Ireland who died after getting swine flu were children with a special needs condition. | It is understood that four of the ten people from Northern Ireland who died after getting swine flu were children with a special needs condition. |
| In the last two weeks two children from Foyleview Special School in Londonderry have died after contracting swine flu. | In the last two weeks two children from Foyleview Special School in Londonderry have died after contracting swine flu. |
| Ashleigh Lynch died on Wednesday. Her fellow pupil, Orla O'Kane, had died the week before. | Ashleigh Lynch died on Wednesday. Her fellow pupil, Orla O'Kane, had died the week before. |
| Following the girls' deaths, there had been calls from some school principals for teachers to be included in the first wave of vaccinations. | Following the girls' deaths, there had been calls from some school principals for teachers to be included in the first wave of vaccinations. |
| Colm Davis, the principal of Tor Bank school in Dundonald, had likened some of his staff to frontline health workers who were "working directly with very sick children". | Colm Davis, the principal of Tor Bank school in Dundonald, had likened some of his staff to frontline health workers who were "working directly with very sick children". |
| Last week, the Department of Health said they did not think it was necessary for teachers to be included in priority swine flu vaccinations. | Last week, the Department of Health said they did not think it was necessary for teachers to be included in priority swine flu vaccinations. |
| It is understood the plan to offer special school staff the vaccine this week could prove difficult as many special schools are off on mid-term break. | It is understood the plan to offer special school staff the vaccine this week could prove difficult as many special schools are off on mid-term break. |