Swine Flu Vaccine Delayed

Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis initially announced that the vaccine from the World Health Organization (WHO) was scheduled to reach our shores by today, but now Dr. Minnis said the slowed vaccine production rate has hampered those efforts.

"Presently there is a greater than 50 percent decrease in the production line in the volume of the vaccine, which means that the amount that has been anticipated has been drastically reduced," Dr. Minnis explained.

"Therefore there are certain countries, including The Bahamas, that would have to wait for the vaccine production to increase. So the vaccine we were expecting to get here by the end of this month had been delayed as a result of this greater than 50 percent reduction rate in volume. Our latest estimate is that we would probably get our vaccine sometime in January."

According to recent reports, the global number of swine flu deaths has jumped by more than 1,000 in a week.

At least 7,826 people are now known to have died following infection with the H1N1 virus since it first emerged in Mexico in April, according to the WHO.

A few months back, a group of 16 Bahamians – 10 students, two teachers and four chaperones – from the island of Abaco, who had traveled to Mexico on April 10th, had been quarantined.

In addition, several members of a soccer team that departed the capital for Mexico on Monday, April 27 were also subject to quarantined.

A resident in New Providence, who had recently returned from a trip to Mexico and reported flu-like symptoms to a local clinic, was also placed in voluntary isolation.

All of these tests came back negative.

Three persons who were also tested for swine flu in Grand Bahama were also negative.

However, Dr. Minnis said the fact that The Bahamas has not received a batch of the swine flu vaccine as yet is no cause for concern.

He said his ministry remains vigilant and has constantly been keeping a keen eye on the potentially deadly virus.

But Dr. Minnis said what should happen now, is that Bahamians ought to continue to do their part to ensure their health and safety.

"We would not be the only country that would have experienced this delay, because of the decrease in production line," he said. "Therefore we would all have to continue to follow the surveyance and protocols that we have put in place."

Dr. Minnis added the government is expecting to receive vaccine to accommodate up to 250,000 people.

He said if production speeds up the vaccine might get here sooner than expected.