START OF NATIONWIDE SWINE FLU VACCINATION PROGRAM

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000907 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE IO/HS BLACKWOOD AND OES/IHB FANTOZZI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KFLU AORC PREL AS SUBJECT: START OF NATIONWIDE SWINE FLU VACCINATION PROGRAM REF: CANBERRA 884 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Australia began the biggest inoculation roll-out in its history, offering the H1N1 vaccine to almost every person in the country and at no cost. A total of 5.5 million doses of the vaccine have been delivered around Australia for the start of this program. In addition, the Rudd Government has placed an order for 21 million more doses. Overall, the initiation of the program has played out positively with the Australian public. END SUMMARY. NEW PROGRAM BEGINS -------------- ¶2. (U) Beginning on September 30, all of Australia's States and Territories began offering pandemic (H1N1or swine flu) vaccine to adults and children 10 years and over. Children under 10 will also be eligible for vaccination once the vaccine is registered for younger children by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (GOA's equivalent to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration). Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon unveiled the plan on September 30. ¶3. (U) According to the Ministry's official press release, a total of 5.5 million doses of the vaccine have been delivered around Australia for the start of this program. Thousands more vaccines are being produced each day by local pharmaceutical company CSL. In addition, the Rudd Government has placed an order for 21 million doses of the newly developed vaccine. The various State and Territory health authorities have a range of strategies in place to provide the vaccine to their populations, including through general practitioners, influenza clinics, Aboriginal Medical Services and local government. Toll Thus Far -------------- ¶4. (U) Figures from the Ministry of Health and Ageing reveal that the H1N1 09 influenza has led to more than 4,700 people being hospitalized in Australia, with around 13% of those being admitted to intensive care units. Almost 1,500 of those hospitalizations have been in children and teenagers. Since the pandemic began, there have been 180 associated deaths. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: Australia is one of the first countries in the world to offer the H1N1 vaccine to the general population. Especially noteworthy is the fact that all people aged over ten are immediately eligible to receive the vaccination for free. A few experts have criticized the program, like Australian National University's Professor of Infectious Diseases Peter Collignon, who believes that all vaccines carry risks and therefore Australia should wait to see what happens with the vaccine in the northern hemisphere before embarking in such a mass program. But overall the roll out has played out positively with the Australian public. CLUNE