Jab for everyone in Lothian if swine flu reaches crisis point

Published on Monday 1 June 2009 09:57

EVERYONE in the Lothians would be inoculated against swine flu should it escalate into a global crisis, it has emerged.

NHS Lothian chiefs are already drawing up plans to cope with delivering a soon-to-be developed jab to around 800,000 people.

This would mean the normal seasonal flu vaccination programme would be halted, although it is not known if one jab would cover both infections.

The news comes as the Scottish Government confirmed a man from the US who travelled to Edinburgh last week was the country's latest swine flu case. He had arrived in Edinburgh from the US via Dublin on May 25 and was showing symptoms on the flight.

Contacts on this flight have been followed up by health chiefs, but the man's wife – his one close contact – is known to be well.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon said today: "This is clearly a difficult time for this man and his wife. However, I would once again stress that the risk to the general public remains low."

There are also three new probable cases under investigation including one in Lothian. All are non-travel related.

And another possible case is under investigation in Lothian.

NHS Lothian's director of public health, Dr Alison McCallum, outlined the preparations to members of the health board.

Any instruction for action would come from Holyrood, and it is up to the World Health Organisation to declare a pandemic. Ms McCallum emphasised that NHS Lothian was merely ready to act when and if instructed.

Ms McCallum said: "If we get to a stage where a pandemic is declared, seasonal vaccination would stop and we would deliver the new strain."

She added that the H1N1 was more easily passed among younger people, judging from cases across the world.

"The vaccine is currently being developed, but it isn't ready yet," she added.

NHS Lothian was investigating seven possible cases, some of whom were known to have had contact with two Greek students at Heriot-Watt University, but they have now all been cleared.

Annette Street Primary in Glasgow was closed last week amid fears of swine flu, with one pupil at the school subsequently testing positive for the virus.

The 11-year-old's mother and 37-year-old father – who is critically ill in hospital – have also tested positive for the virus.

Ms Sturgeon said: "It is important that we remain vigilant.

"But I am confident that our infection-control procedures are working very well."