You will find below information about how we are providing vaccination against Swine Flu and Patient Leaflets.

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SWINE FLU VACCINATION FOR CHILDREN

AGED 6 MONTHS TO LESS THAN 5 YEARS

 

 

18th December 09- 

Following discussions with the Local Medical Committe and in view of the significant impact that the delivery of swine flu vaccination to this group of patients will have on our ability to provide wider medical sedrvices to all our patients, Buckingham Terrace will not provide vaccination to this group, unless they have a recorded chronic condition or are immunocompromised. ( please see below)

We understand that the West Community Health Partnership ( West CHCP) will undertake the responsibility for, identifying, inviting and delivering the swine flu vaccines to these patients. Further information regarding this can be obtained by contacting Public Health department on 0141 2014444.

The current vaccination programme at the practice is detailed below.

 

SWINE FLU VACCINATION PROGRAMME AT

BUCKINGHAM TERRACE

1. Patients aged 6 months and over who have an underlying chronic conditions such as respiratory disease, heart disease, renal disease, liver disease, neurological disease, and diabetes.
2. Pregnant women.
3. Patients who are immunocompromised and their house hold contacts.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any queries or questions and please ignore this letter if you have already received your swine flu vaccination.

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Swine Flu Patient Leaflet Information

 

The DH has published a swine flu patient leaflet, which is relevant for Scotland and is available here:
www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pandemic-flu/Documents/Sf%20vaccination%20leafle...

There is also advice for pregnant patients:   

swine

AND PREGNANCY

flu

How to protect yourself

and your baby

This leaflet gives information about:

• the swine flu vaccination that you can have during

pregnancy to help protect you and your baby

• precautions you can take to reduce your risk of infection

• treatments that are available if you do become ill.

Flu. Protect yourself and others.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

Contents

What is swine flu? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

About the swine flu vaccine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Is the vaccine safe for me

and my baby? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

What can I do to protect myself

and others from swine flu? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

What should I do if I or people

close to me catch swine flu

before I have the vaccine? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

What should I do now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1

What is swine flu?

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of flu virus.

The seasonal flu vaccines that are already available don’t protect

against swine flu, so a new flu vaccine has been developed.

How serious is swine flu?

For most people, swine flu is mild. It comes on quickly and generally

lasts for around a week. It causes fever, tiredness, a cough and a sore

throat. Other symptoms can include a headache, aching muscles, chills,

sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Some people are more likely to become seriously ill with swine flu,

including pregnant women. This is why it is important to have

the vaccine.

Why are pregnant women being offered the

vaccination first?

Pregnant women are considerably more likely to develop serious

complications from swine flu. The World Health Organization states

that up to 10% of all hospitalised patients with swine flu are women

who are more than three months pregnant.

The risk of complications (including miscarriage and premature labour)

is highest during the later stages of pregnancy. Having the swine flu

vaccine now could help you avoid catching swine flu and protect

your baby.

Pregnant women are considerably more likely to

develop serious complications and be hospitalised

with swine flu.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

2

About the swine flu vaccine

Vaccines have been developed to protect against the virus that causes

swine flu. There are two different brands of vaccine: Pandemrix and

Celvapan. Most people given the Pandemrix vaccine will only need

one dose. People who have the Celvapan vaccine will need two doses,

at least three weeks apart.

Is it the same as the seasonal flu vaccination?

No. The swine flu vaccine is different from the seasonal flu vaccination

that’s offered every year. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect

against swine flu. If you are usually advised by your GP to have the

seasonal flu vaccination, you should have it as usual.

Can the swine flu vaccine be given at the same time

as other vaccines?

Yes, the swine flu vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines,

including the seasonal flu vaccine. But if two vaccinations are being

administered on the same day, they should be given in different arms.

There are two vaccines – which one will I be given?

We advise the use of Pandemrix for pregnant women, as only one dose

is required. This means that you will be protected more quickly from

the risk of flu than if you receive Celvapan, which requires two doses,

at least three weeks apart.

If you usually have the seasonal flu vaccine,

you should continue to have this as normal.

3

Is the vaccine safe for

me and my baby?

Pandemrix and Celvapan are both licensed for use for pregnant

women. Similar vaccines containing another flu virus strain (H5N1)

have been clinically tested in trials involving over 5,000 people.

When it licensed the vaccines, the European Commission carefully

considered all the evidence and recommended them for use. Women

who are known to have become pregnant shortly after receiving

Pandemrix have gone on to have normal pregnancies.

What is an adjuvanted vaccine?

An adjuvant is added to vaccines so that a lower dose of the vaccine

is needed to produce the same level of protection. The adjuvant

enhances the immune response seen following vaccination.

The adjuvant used in Pandemrix includes squalene, which is extracted

from fish oil and occurs naturally in plants, animals and humans.

There is also a small amount of vitamin E (which we all have in our

food and in our bodies) and polysorbate 80 (which is found in food

and other medicines).

What is thiomersal?

Pandemrix contains thiomersal, which is a preservative that contains

a very small amount of mercury.

There is no evidence of risk from thiomersal-containing vaccines

for pregnant women and their babies.

Can the swine flu vaccine cause flu?

No. The flu vaccine cannot give you flu as it does not contain a live

virus. Some people may experience mild flu-like symptoms (like fever,

headache and muscle aches) for up to 48 hours after immunisation

as their immune system responds to the vaccine, but this is not flu.

The vaccine is not live and cannot cause swine flu.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

4

Are there any other side effects?

All vaccinations can produce side effects such as redness, soreness and

swelling at the site of the injection. The vast majority of these side

effects are not serious.

If you think that you or someone you know has experienced

a more serious side effect to Pandemrix or Celvapan, please speak

to your GP or midwife or report it to the Medicines and Healthcare

products Regulatory Agency at

www.mhra.gov.uk/swineflu.

I’ve already had swine flu. Do I still need the vaccine?

Most people cannot be certain they have had swine flu unless it was

confirmed by laboratory tests. There are several viruses which can

cause flu-like symptoms and so, to be sure that we reduce the risk

of infection, we are offering vaccination to all people in the priority

groups. It is safe to be vaccinated even if you have already had swine

flu and taken antivirals.

Who can’t have the swine flu vaccine?

There are very few people who cannot have the swine flu vaccine.

The vaccines should not be given to anyone who has had a severe

allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or to any

component of the vaccine. If you are worried that this may apply to

you, talk to your GP or midwife.

What about people with egg allergies?

The Pandemrix vaccine is prepared in hens’ eggs in the same way that

seasonal flu vaccines are. It should not be given to people who have

had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (experiencing shock or difficulty

breathing) after being exposed to egg products. The Celvapan vaccine

is not prepared using eggs, so you should have this vaccine if you have

a severe allergy to eggs.

Who can I talk to if I’m concerned?

Contact your GP, practice nurse or midwife if you have any concerns.

5

What can I do to protect myself

and others from swine flu?

The swine flu virus can be transmitted through the droplets that come

out of an infected person’s nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze.

The most effective way of reducing transmission is by following simple

respiratory and hand hygiene. You can reduce the risk of catching or

spreading swine flu by doing the following:

•

when coughing or sneezing.

Catch it – always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue

•

Bin it – throwing away dirty tissues promptly and carefully.

•

frequently with soap and warm water or using a sanitiser gel.

Cleaning hard surfaces that are frequently touched (such as door

handles) using a normal cleaning product will also help reduce the

spread of infection.

Kill it – maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands

Can I continue with my normal activities?

Yes. Carry on doing the things you normally do, such as going to

work, travelling on public transport and attending family gatherings.

However, try to avoid visiting family or friends who are suffering

flu-like symptoms.

If you know of a large number of people falling ill in your neighbourhood,

you may prefer to avoid crowded places where possible.

Am I at risk at work?

Legally, employers must assess the risks to their employees from

their job, including work risks which may affect expectant mothers.

You should therefore let your employer know, in writing if possible,

about your pregnancy as soon as you can. This will allow you both to

look at the possible risks of your job and to take any necessary action

to protect the health and safety of both you and your baby.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

6

What should I do if I or people

close to me catch swine flu

before I have the vaccine?

If you are pregnant and you think you or people close to you have

swine flu, it’s important to contact your doctor, who can advise you

on what to do next.

If you are diagnosed with swine flu, you may be offered an

antiviral medicine.

What is the difference between an antiviral and a vaccine?

A vaccine is given to prevent someone from catching an infection.

The body’s immune system then makes antibodies which will fight

off infection if exposure to the virus occurs.

People who are already ill with swine flu are treated with antivirals.

Antivirals may help relieve some of the symptoms of swine flu

and reduce the potential for serious complications.

Which antiviral will I be given?

Two antiviral medicines (Relenza and Tamiflu) are recommended for

pregnant women who have an uncomplicated illness due to swine flu

and who do not have an underlying disease.

Relenza is breathed in using an inhaler and is recommended as the

first choice for pregnant women because it easily reaches the throat

and lungs, where it is needed. It does not reach significant levels in

the blood or placenta, and should not affect your pregnancy or your

growing baby.

7

Tamiflu should be offered to you instead of Relenza if you:

•

pulmonary disease

have a condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive

•

have difficulty using an inhaler, or

•

probably be treated in hospital).

If you are prescribed antiviral medication, it’s important to start taking

it as soon as possible.

develop a severe or complicated disease due to flu (you will

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

8

What should I do now?

You should be invited to go to a vaccination clinic or to make an

appointment at your GP surgery. Not everyone in the country will

get their vaccine at exactly the same time, so don’t worry if you don’t

hear from your GP surgery straightaway.

However, if after a few weeks you still haven’t heard anything,

get in touch with your GP surgery.

If you are pregnant and think you have swine flu

In England

Contact your GP

People who are not in higher risk groups should visit

www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu

or call the NatTextphone:

(for people who are deaf or hard of hearing)

In Scotland

Contact your GP or NHS24:

08454 24 24 24

Textphone:

18001 08454 24 24 24

(for people who are deaf or hard of hearing)

In Wales

Contact your GP or call NHS Direct Wales:

0845 46 47

Textphone:

0845 606 46 47

(for people who are deaf or hard of hearing)

In Northern Ireland

Contact your GP or the Northern Ireland swine flu helpline:

0800 0514 142

Textphone:

18001 0800 0514 142

(for people wh

9

Calling NHS24 should cost no more than the price of a local telephone

call from a BT landline. Calls to NHS Direct Wales cost a maximum of

2p per minute from most BT landlines. Calls to all other numbers here

are free from landlines. Calls from mobiles and other networks may

vary – please check with your provider.

For more information about swine flu and pregnancy

Visit

www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu

• stop the spread of the virus to others around you.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemic-flu/Pages/Adviceforpregnantwomen.aspx

                  

 

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Here is also practice general advice; 

• A close contact is anyone who has spent al least one hour within one meter of a confirmed or possible case
• A confirmed case is someone who is tested positive for swine flu
• A possible case is someone with flu like symptoms who has either been in close contact with a confirmed case or recently travelled from an infected area within the last seven days.

GETTING YOUR RESULT:

If you have had a swb please contact 201 4730 for your results.

 

You can get further information from;

NHS 24 0845 24 24 24  or by visiting

Q&A:What is Swine Flu (Information source NHS Direct