Delhi doctors at risk to get shots against swine flu

Healthcare workers in Delhi are likely to get vaccinated Monday onwards following recommendations from the Centre earlier this week.

The health department is likely to receive the vaccine stock by the end of this week.
The vaccines will be free for doctors and paramedic staff who are dealing with swine flu patients. Till now, there was still no clear-cut policy on vaccination. However, some medical staff were getting themselves vaccinated, paying Rs 300-500.

“The vaccines will be free for doctors and paramedic staff who are directly dealing with patients admitted at hospitals for swine flu or in the OPD. These healthcare workers are most likely to be vaccinated from Monday,” said Dr S K Sharma, Directorate of Health Services (DHS).

Currently, there are 25 designated hospitals for dealing with swine flu cases. The Delhi government had recommended all 100-bed hospitals to treat swine flu.

According to experts, vaccination is not required at a mass-level yet. Only those who are exposed to a large number of people, especially in hospitals, need to be vaccinated.

Also, higher-risk groups like elderly people, pregnant women, children below the age of five, those with low immunity and those suffering from diabetes and hypertension can also get vaccinated, they added.

“We do not recommend vaccination for the general public. Healthcare workers are advised to be vaccinated because they are obviously at a higher risk of contracting the infection. Apart from those dealing with patients, those at hospital counters or workers exposed to a large number of people in crowded places can also get vaccinated,” said Dr V M Katoch, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research.

A vaccine can also never assure 100 per cent protection against swine flu virus.
“Vaccination is important for healthcare workers not only for personal protection but also for the protection of other patients who are not infected with swine flu that these doctors are dealing with. For the general public, what is recommended is maintaining high level of hygiene and not mass vaccination,” said Dr Lalit Dar, Associate Professor, Microbiology team, AIIMS.

“Even if a person is given a vaccine shot, it is effective in 70 per cent of the cases. It usually takes between 7-14 days for the antibodies to form and the person to be immune to the virus. In a case in which the virus is rapidly spreading, getting vaccinated may not help,” said Dr Dar.

Meanwhile, private chemists near hospitals said every day at least 200-250 masks are being sold. The masks are priced at Rs 5 and Rs 75 at these stores. The Rs 5-masks are most on demand.
According to doctors, wearing masks is a must for those infected with swine flu. However, these masks may not necessarily help a person avoid contracting infection, said doctors.