This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Pneumococcal vaccination for over 65s
23/12/2002
An expert advisory group established to introduce pneumococcal immunisation in 2003-04 for all those aged 65 and over was announced today.
Pneumococcal vaccinations will protect older people against the more serious complications associated with invasive pneumococcal infections, including pneumonia.
Deputy Health Minister Frank McAveety said:
"I have established a multidisciplinary implementation group, to begin to plan and manage the detail of introducing a new pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination programme. This initiative will extend the protection from disease to older people in Scotland.
"Unlike the flu vaccine, the pneumococcal vaccine will provide individuals with protection for 10 years so they will not have to have this jab every year."
The remit of the implementation group, chaired by Professor Lewis Ritchie, is:
"to manage and co-ordinate the implementation, from 2003-04 and thereafter, of a national programme of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination for people aged 65 and over, subject to relevant advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and Minister's related policy decisions."
Professor Ritchie said:
"The Group has had a productive first meeting. We have arranged a series of meetings in 2003 to take forward the range of detailed logistical issues which underpin a successful immunisation programme. Pneumococcal vaccinations will protect older people against the more serious complications associated with invasive pneumococcal infections, including pneumonia."
Membership of the Group is:
- Professor Lewis Ritchie, University of Aberdeen, Department of General Practice and Primary Care, Chair
- Dr Lesley Macdonald, Director of Public Health, Fife NHS Board
- Dr Helen Irvine, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, Greater Glasgow NHS Board
- Dr Syed Ahmed, Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health
- Dr David Cromie, NHS Lanarkshire, Chair of Scottish Immunisation Recall System (SIRS) Users Group
- Edward Mallinson, Specialist in Pharmaceutical Public Health, Lanarkshire NHS Board
- Elaine Steele, North Ayrshire, representing Association of Local Health Care Co-operatives
- Dr David Love, Joint Chair Scottish General Practitioners Committee
- Ann Kerr, Health Education Board for Scotland
- Peter Knight, Information and Statistics Division, Common Services Agency
- Dr Patrick Brooks, representing Age Concern
- Dr John Winter, Consultant Respiratory Physician, Ninewells Hospital, representing Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
- Catherine Murphy, SIRS technical Group
- Nell McFadden, MBE, Inverclyde Community Care Forum
Professor Ritchie is a serving GP principal at Peterhead Health Centre and an Honorary Consultant in Public Health Medicine at Grampian NHS Board. He is also a member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) which advises UK Health Departments on issues relating to vaccination and immunisation.