Government flu jab offer… at last

Sixty thousand people working in close contact with poultry are to be offered a free flu jab, the Department of Health has announced.

The idea is to lower the risk of a flu pandemic. By reducing the possibility of poultry workers developing human flu there is less chance that in the event of an avian influenza outbreak they will end up with both types simultaneously.

It is this possibility that experts fear could lead to H5N1 being transformed into a type of flu that is both deadly and transmittable from one human to another. This year's vaccination programme will run from January 22 to March 31.

The announcement is sure to leave everyone in the industry asking why the Government has waited until the end of the winter to act. And there is still confusion about whether the free jab is a one-off or the start of an annual exercise.

The leaflet that will be distributed to workers says: "You will be offered a free flu jab every year for as long as you are working with poultry." But the official DoH statement said: "It is possible that arrangements to immunise poultry workers will continue in future years."

Even the distribution of forms and leaflets have left many producers confused and frustrated.

The manager of each unit listed on the Poultry Register has been sent just one copy of the publications and one form to register for the jab. But some farms will need up to a couple of dozen. Callers to the Department of Health Publications who ask for further copies are being told that none are in stock and to ring back in a week. One producer told the Ranger: "This is potentially a very serious issue and encouraging as many people as possible to get immunised is obviously important. But the way it has been organised leaves a lot to be desired."

Dr David Sainsbury, the Department's Director of Immunisation said: "The immunisation programme is a precautionary measure which reduces any very low risk of a pandemic flu virus emerging in the UK. The programme has the support of the poultry industry. This is a prudent and precautionary step to take as part of our contingency planning in protecting the population against the risk of pandemic flu.

"Avian flu is a disease of birds. Only those who are in close, prolonged contact with diseased birds are at risk from catching H5N1. Even so, people rarely become infected."

The Health Protection Agency has come up with a definition of a poultry worker. This is it:

1. Workers employed at or regularly visiting registered poultry units who fall into one, or more, of the following categories:

• Routinely access enclosed poultry rearing or egg production areas.

• Perform initial sorting of poultry eggs if the sorting area is an integral part of the production unit.

• Catch or cull poultry within enclosed poultry rearing or egg production areas.

• Perform final clean down of poultry sheds following depopulation of a poultry house.

2. Workers who collect and remove poultry manure or litter from within enclosed poultry rearing or egg production areas of registered poultry units.

3. Workers in poultry processing units who:

• Catch and handle live birds.

• Kill and eviscerate birds.

• Cleanse and disinfect areas and equipment contaminated by poultry faeces.

To order more copies of the immunisation pack call Department of Health Publications on 08701 555 455. Quote reference 278974.in the