Australian government provides H1N1 vaccines

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Australian government provides H1N1 vaccines

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 08:23 Sounay Phothisane

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Dr Eksavang Vongvichit ( right ) shakes hands with Dr Michele Forster.

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Groups at most risk of contracting influenza A(H1N1) will soon be able to have a vaccine against the virus thanks to assistance from the Australian government.

At risk groups for the virus include healthcare workers, mothers-to-be and people suffering from chronic diseases including low and high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and asthma.

A ceremony to present 660,000 doses of the vaccine, worth more than 44 billion kip (US$5.2 million), was held in Vientiane yesterday and attended by Deputy Minister of Health, Professor Dr Eksavang Vongvichit, and Australian Ambassador to Laos, Dr Michele Forster.

“This donation is among the first in a commitment by the Australian government to provide up to 10 percent of Australian pandemic vaccines for use by Australia's neighbours,” said Dr Forster.

She added that in making the assistance, Australia is contributing to international efforts to support the World Health Organisation (WHO) in ensuring that sufficient pandemic vaccines are distributed to where they are most needed.

“In doing so, we are recognising the many challenges developing countries face in obtaining vaccines. Vaccines are one of the most valuable ways to protect people during influenza epidemics and pandemics.”

On behalf of the Lao government and people, Dr Eksavang thanked the Australian government for its assistance in providing the vaccines.

WHO representative to Laos Dr Dong-il Anh and related officials also attended the ceremony.

As part of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation undertaken by the Ministry of Health, the vaccines will be distributed around the country. About 20,000 medical staff, 180,000 mothers-to-be and about 350,000 people suffering from chronic diseases are expected to receive a shot.

Influenza A(H1N1) was first indentified in April 2009 in Mexico and soon spread worldwide.

The National Emerging Infectious Disease Coordination Office has recorded 292 cases of the H1N1 virus in Laos since June last year. Two of those people died.

According to WHO, as of March 7 this year more than 213 countries and overseas territories or communities have reported laboratory confirmed cases of pandemic influenza A(H1N1) since 2009, including at least 16,713 deaths.

The most active areas of pandemic influenza transmission are currently in Southeast Asia, but lower levels of pandemic virus circulation persist in other parts of Asia and in Eastern and South-eastern Europe. In West Africa, limited data suggests that pandemic influenza virus transmission may be increasing.

Seasonal influenza B-strain viruses have been increasingly detected in Asia and appear to be spreading westward. -- Vientianetimes.org.la

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