HEAltH MAttErS 13
pandemIc
nUrses’ key role
the nursing profession is playing a key role in the battle
against swine flu.
paedIaTrIC popUlaTIoNS
Initial clinical trial data in children aged
over six months to 18 years, suggests a A
n Advisory Group, established by • Guidance for Health Service Providers
the Office of the Nursing Services on Education and training requirements
Director, has been working closely for non-ICu nurses to support the
comparable safety profile with that observed with the National Pandemic Vaccination provision of intensive care including
with the ‘mock-up’ (H5N1) vaccines. Due Implementation Committee and Regional care of the ventilated patient during
to a lack of clinical experience in children Implementation Committees. A suite of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009.
below six months of age, even with documents incorporating directions and
seasonal influenza vaccination, influenza medication protocols was produced as these education programmes are
vaccines are not recommended for children a result of this collaboration and these provided through the Centres of Nursing
under six months. documents are underpinned by education and Midwifery Education and are
programmes developed to support extended to other disciplines, including
pregNaNT WoMeN the role of nurses and midwives during dentists, medical practitioners and
Data on pregnant women vaccinated Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. These include: professionals from the private sector.
with different inactivated, non-adjuvanted • Training programme for Registered The Office of Nursing Services
seasonal vaccines indicate no malformative Nurses and Midwives on the was also strategically involved in the
or foetal/ neonatal toxicity. there is administration of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 development of an innovative elearning
extensive experience from seasonal vaccines under medication protocols programme for health care workers.
influenza vaccination in all trimesters of (4,434 participants by early November); this ensured all health care staff had the
pregnancy, since such vaccination has • Basic Life Support for Health Care opportunity to become conversant with
been recommended for several years in Providers (1,379 participants); Pandemic (H1N1) 2009, thus ensuring
some countries (such as the uSA), which • Anaphylaxis Treatment Training this information could be cascaded to
have not raised concerns. there is no Programme (1,532 participants); colleagues and members of the general
indication at the present time that inclusion • Guidance for nurses and midwives public. Nurses and midwives that form
of adjuvants in vaccines is associated with on injection technique for Vaccinating part of the Mass Vaccination Clinic
adverse outcomes on pregnancy. the Children aged six months to 13 years teams have all undertaken the relevant
effectiveness and safety of the pandemic during Pandemic (H1N1) 2009; training programmes.
A(H1N1)v vaccines when used in pregnant • Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
women will be specifically monitored, elearning programme; Office of the Nursing Services Director
including observational studies using
pregnancy registries.
safety concern as compared to a non-
THIoMerSal adjuvanted vaccine. The SPCs for both
The multi-dose presentations of Pandemrix
“Both pandemrix and
Pandemrix and Celvapan, for example,
vaccines contain thiomersal (five
celvapan are considered by
carry the same recommendations for use
micrograms per dose) as a preservative. in pregnancy.
The WHO, the united States Institute of
the emea and the ImB as
Medicine, and the EMEA have concluded
equally safe and effective”
CoNClUSIoN
that the evidence favours the rejection of Both Celvapan and Pandemrix, the
a causal relationship between thiomersal- pandemic vaccines available for use in
containing vaccines and autism. Additional adjUvaNTS Ireland are considered equally safe and
publications have underscored the lack of Pandemrix contains a squalene/ DL-α- effective for use across all population sub-
an association between thiomersal and tocopherol based adjuvant (AS03), both to groups based on the available evidence
neurodevelopmental disorders. the enhance the immune response when using to date and when used in line with their
EMEA has previously acknowledged a lesser amount of actual virus material and Summary of Product Characteristics. As
in 2004 and 2007 that the presence of to potentially afford better cross-protection new data from clinical trials and post-
thiomersal in some vaccines is necessary against drifted strains should the current marketing surveillance becomes available,
as a preservative in multidose vials. After circulating viral strain mutate. the IMB will provide updated information.
evaluation of the scientific evidence, the During the licensing process, the EMEA
EMEA concluded that immunisation with reviewed results from both animal and Please review the websites at regular
vaccines containing thiomersal continues human studies and assessed the safety intervals for the most up to date
to offer benefits to the general population and effectiveness of the AS03 adjuvant. information at www.imb.ie and www.
that greatly exceed any identified risk of the EMEA has concluded that the use of emea.europa.eu.
allergic reactions. an adjuvant does not pose any additional
Brought to you by KCI Medical Ireland. Freephone 1800 33 33 77
health matters is 4.indd 13 27/11/2009 20:35:02
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