KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Front-line health workers are being encouraged to get vaccinated to protect themselves against the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

The call came from Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, who has assured that Jamaica has an adequate supply of the vaccine, which is being further shored up.

“We have brought in another 2,000 doses from Trinidad (and Tobago), and Belize, and (this) week, we will get another 3,000 doses that was ordered. That, we believe, is stockpiling a lot more than would normally be the case and certainly would allow for the front-line health care staff, who are particularly at risk, because they have to address the detection and treatment, to be able to access that medication,” he stated.

The minister was speaking to journalists following a tour of the newly upgraded National Virology Reference Laboratory, housed at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), on March 11.

While noting that getting vaccinated is voluntary, Dr Tufton nonetheless implored health care staff to exercise precaution by taking the medication, and pledged the ministry’s assistance in acquiring it.

“If, for any reason, front-line staff are still concerned and unaware that the vaccine is available, they can get in touch with us at the ministry and we will take whatever measures that are necessary to help them to access it,” he said.

The health minister further noted that the vaccine, which can be accessed from public health care facilities, is also available to the general public via private entities which sell and administer the medicine. The cost ranges between $1,200 and $1,500 per dose.

Symptoms of the H1N1 virus are similar to seasonal influenza and may include sneezing, coughing, runny and stuffy nose, fatigue and headache.

To date, 46 cases of the H1N1 virus have been detected in Jamaica. This is up from an average of 30 cases, since more than 170 cases were recorded in 2009.