H1N1 Free Pandemic Flu Vaccine Available for All – Quick Consent?
On 30th September, 2009, the Australian government embarked on a national influenza vaccination program against H1N1 (Swine) Flu. The full media release is available at URL: [http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/907DAC8DDA4756C6CA25764100112643/$File/nr167.pdf/]. The Royal College of Nursing, Australia (R.C.N.A.) provides resources for nurses on the H1N1 outbreak at URL: [http://www.rcna.org.au/publications/swine_flu_update].
The Government of Western Australia’s Panvax Training Presentation Slide-Show may need to be reviewed. I note that on Slide 81 of this presentation it is suggested that staff consider obtaining ‘Quick Consent’ from clients whereby ‘it may be necessary to get clients together and do a group consent prior to vaccination’. Refer to the W.A. Panvax Training Presentation for Australian Health Care Workers at URL: [http://www.scribd.com/doc/19750496/H1N1-Panvax-Training-Presentation-for-Australian-Health-Care-Workers]. In view of reported concerns about H1N1 vaccination by health care workers overseas, it is advisable to strictly adhere to the R.C.N.A.’s guidelines advocating caution in relation to the administration of the above-mentioned vaccine. In this regard, the logistics of delivering millions of vaccines to Australian clients is perhaps an issue requiring further investigation and direction.
