芬蘭接收豬流感刺戳“秋季可能第二波”

芬蘭接收付運的420萬豬流感刺戳 “秋季可能第二波”
Finland takes delivery of 4.2 million swine flu jabs for "second wave probably next autumn"
Monday, 08 February 2010 15:06

France and Switzerland are among the European countries to have declared the swine flu pandemic is almost over. But the Finnish government has taken delivery of 4.2 million swine flu vaccines in the expectation that there will be a second wave in autumn.
法國和瑞士都是歐洲其中一些國家，已宣布豬流感大流行已差不多過去。但芬蘭政府已接收交付的420萬豬流感疫苗，預期秋季將有第二波。
"The second wave of the swine flu epidemic will probably arrive in Finland next autumn at the latest," the government said in a press release without clarifying what is the scientific basis for this prediction or explaining how come the pandemic is over in other European countries close by but not in Finland.

An estimated two million Finns took the swine flu vaccine, according to the government.
估計200萬芬蘭人接種了豬流感疫苗，根據政府。
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

Press Release

1.2.2010 15.21

Finland has received 4.2 million doses of vaccine

Finland has so far received 4.2 million doses of the swine flu vaccine. The 1.4 million doses that arrived recently will be distributed to municipalities this week. The rest of the vaccines, a total of 1.1 million doses, should arrive in a few weeks.

In Finland the swine flu situation has remained stable, although infections still occur. The second wave of the swine flu epidemic will probably arrive in Finland next autumn at the latest. Good vaccination coverage could prevent a new outbreak of the epidemic. So far around two million Finns have already been vaccinated. Vaccination against swine flu is still recommended to everyone. Especially the persons in the at-risk groups who have not yet been vaccinated should get the vaccine even though at present the vaccinations are targeted at the healthy adult population.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health recommends that municipalities complete the vaccinations swiftly and flexibly. The special vaccination arrangements could then be dismantled by the end of March, and a return to normality would be possible in health care. Even after this the health services should offer the vaccine as usual especially to persons in the at-risk groups who have not yet been vaccinated; these include pregnant women, persons with medical condition causing a risk of developing a serious illness, and children aged over six months.

Occupational health services have taken part in the vaccination campaign, and employers can still enter agreements to vaccinate their employees through the occupational health services. Information on the vaccinations is available at the National Institute for Health and Welfare webpage http://www.thl.fi/, the municipalities' own webpages, and the health centres.

Single dose should be enough The data available at present indicates that a single dose of the swine flu vaccine should be enough to immunise both children and adults against swine flu, and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) does not recommend two doses of vaccine. Earlier it was assumed that for example children would need a second dose.

The swine flu vaccine used in Finland is well tolerated. The range and prevalence of side effects do not give any reasons to suspect the safety of the vaccine and the side effects are similar to those of influenza vaccines in general. The most common side effect has been local reactions where the injection was given. Over 10 per cent of the vaccinated have experienced fever, muscle ache and fatigue or headache.

All the EU Member States using the swine flu vaccines follow up the symptoms that in temporal terms can be linked to the vaccination. The symptoms are, then, reported to EMEA, which systematically goes through the suspected adverse reactions to the vaccines and publishes a pharmacovigilance report every week.

Changes in the influenza hotline opening hours The influenza telephone hotline operates on weekdays from 12 to 17. The hotline answers general questions about swine flu and swine flu vaccinations. Advice regarding the health status of callers is not given via telephone. The telephone number of the service is 0800 02277 in Finnish and 0800 02278 in Swedish.

The telephone hotline has been in operation since the end of July. The number of calls has decreased in recent weeks to around 30 per day.

More information Merja Saarinen, Ministerial Counsellor for Health Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. (09) 160 74030

Tapani Melkas, Director, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. (09) 160 73886
Kristiina Mukala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, tel. (09) 160 74342

Petri Ruutu, Professor, Institute for Health and Welfare, tel. 020 610 8670

Tuija Leino, Senior Research Officer, National Institute for Health and Welfare, tel. 020 610 8787

Related links http://www.thl.fi/en_US/web/en/ah1n1v (National Institute for Health and Welfare)

http://www.theflucase.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2708%3Afinland-takes-delivery-of-42-million-swine-flu-jabs-for-qsecond-wave-probably-next-autumnq&catid=1%3Alatest-news&Itemid=64&lang=en