Sometimes, the raw numbers can be sobering.
The Health Service Executive reports that Numbers this week’s Influenza Like Illness rate, which tracks the level of illness in the community, is 210 per 100,000 a significant increase from last week’s rate of 154 per 100000.
There are currently 109 people in hospital of a total of 492 hospitalisations to date. 23 people of the 109 are currently in intensive care.
Ten people have died from Swine Flu in Ireland, all of whom had an underlying medical condition.
Over 2300 participating GPs have been receiving vaccine over the last ten days and in many cases have already begun offering vaccine to their at-risk patients. If your GP is not participating in the vaccine campaign you can be vaccinated at a HSE Vaccination Clinic. From next Monday 45 clinics nationwide will also provide vaccines free of charge to those in the at-risk groups.
As with any vaccines, risks have to be balanced with the benefits. The authorities are satisfied the benefits outweighs any possible risks.
You can get information about the swine flu vaccine
- from your general practitioner
- www.swineflu.ie or www.hse.ie
- the automated HSE Flu line 1800 941100
- the HSE infoline 1850 241850.
