This person's donation was one of 22,353 used to make a pool. Approximately 83,500 doses of the polio vaccine in question were distributed in Ireland between 15 January 1998 and 30 January 1999. More detailed checking is taking place within the South Eastern Health Board in relation to the precise usage of this vaccine locally. Albumin has a long tradition of safety. This is based partly on the fact that the purification methods used in its manufacture eliminate the potential for infectivity.
Albumin is produced at the last stage of a series of purification procedures.
Recent studies of the various plasma fractions have shown no infectivity associated with albumin. Some adults may also have received the vaccine as part of the recommended immunisations for travel to certain countries. There is no longer any IUK-sourced plasma material contained in any vaccine in use in Ireland. Parents may contact their family doctor if they wish to enquire whether or not their child received vaccine from any of the batches concerned, as part of their primary immunisations. The South Eastern Health Board has established a telephone line which concerned parents can call to enquire whether or not their child received any of the vaccine, as a booster immunisation.