James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

If we extrapolate the figures from the sentinel surveillance, we see that almost 10,000 people contract the swine flu per week. However, these figures do not take into account the people who do not attend their GP and, therefore, the figure may be more like 30,000. We have a serious situation on our hands. Some GPs have opted out of the vaccination programme because they believe that even if they do not sign a contract but accept and administer it, there is an inferred contract that makes them liable in law to somebody at risk whom they failed to contact. Will the Minister comment on that and reassure GPs that will not be the case so that more people can avail of vaccination through their GPs?

Hundreds of at risk patients have had to be turned away because supplies have run out or were not delivered. One-third of the HSE vaccine clinics remain unopened and some at risk patients face up to a 250 km round trip to their nearest HSE clinic. Some practices filled out the necessary forms last month, but only received syringes and needles. Practices that received doses of vaccine expect it to run out soon and that has already happened in some cases. One GP in Edenderry received enough vaccine for only 30 patients and had to use his entire supply by lunch time yesterday. Another doctor in County Laois only received enough for 60 patients and used that allocation up yesterday. The list goes on.

The HSE has a very poor strategy in place for implementation. Will the Minister confirm how many HSE vaccine clinics remain unopened? When will all the clinics be open and what are their opening times? Will opening times be extended? Is the Minister satisfied there are sufficient vaccines available to cover at risk patients? I accept what she said about the supply issue, but what action will she take to speed up the implementation of the programme?

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