Swine Flu Vaccines Begin With At Risk Groups

NHS hospitals will begin vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and their patients who fall into “at risk” categories against swine flu from 21 October 2009. The vaccination programme will be rolled out over the next few weeks, with GP surgeries receiving deliveries from 26 October 2009.

Around two million frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine. This group is at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients and so it is argued that protecting this particular group of workers will help the NHS workforce to remain resilient and able to treat sick patients.

Other “at risk” groups in England that will be prioritised for vaccination include:

• people aged over six months and under 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical “at risk” groups

• all pregnant women

• household contacts of people with compromised immune systems, eg people in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer

• people aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical “at risk” groups.

The Department of Health said that patients would be contacted by their GPs if they fall into one of the “at risk” categories.

A source at the Department said the GSK vaccine, known as Pandemrix, will be offered to the vast majority of people. It has been licensed and approved by the European regulators. Most people will need only one dose of the vaccine for protection.

Commenting on the programme, Sir Liam Donaldson, the Government’s Chief Medical Officer said: “This is the first pandemic for which we have had vaccine to protect people. I urge everyone in the priority groups to have the vaccine”.

Source: NHS / Croners

Designed, Hosted and Maintained by Union Safety Services