Swine Flu [Updated 8th January]

Swine Flu Vaccination Programme for Children over six months and under 5 years of age

The national Swine Flu Vaccination Programme was extended to children aged between six months and five years old in December 2009.

Extending the vaccination programme to young children is supported by the panel of experts that provide advice on vaccination issues - the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. This is because children under five years of age are more likely than other groups to be hospitalised if they become ill with swine flu.

Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said: "Vaccination remains a personal choice, but I urge everyone who is offered the vaccine to accept it and protect themselves. "While the risks of serious complications from flu may be small, the impact on those affected can be devastating."

In Sheffield if your child is aged from 6 months to under 5, and registered with a Sheffield GP, you will receive an appointment from the child's GP offering the swine flu vaccination, if you don't receive an invite please contact your GP.
More information on the swine flu vaccination programme

Vaccination Programme

Vaccination of people in clinical risk groups is well under way, with more than seven million doses of vaccine already distributed. Vaccinating these groups remains a priority to protect those at greatest risk from swine flu.

The swine flu vaccination programme will be extended to offer children over six months and under five protection against the virus. Extending the vaccination programme to young children is supported by the panel of experts that provide advice on vaccination issues. Children under five years of age are more likely than other groups to be hospitalised if they become ill with swine flu.

Who will get the vaccine?

The groups of people who are most vulnerable to serious illness from swine flu will be offered the vaccine first. In order of priority, these are:

1. People aged between six months and 65 years in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups
2. All pregnant women.
3. People who live with someone whose immune system is compromised (for example, people with cancer or HIV/AIDS).
4. People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
5. Young children aged between six months and five years.

National Pandemic Flu Service

Tel: 0800 1 513 100
Minicom: 0800 1 513 200
Website: www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu

The National Pandemic Flu Service is a new self-care service that will give people with swine flu symptoms fast access to information and antivirals.

It is a dedicated website and a phoneline (0800 1 513 100 or textphone 0800 1 513 200) for people to get information, check their symptoms and get a unique number that will give them access to antivirals if necessary.

When you are given your unique access number, you will be told where your nearest antiviral collection point is. You should then ask a flu friend - a healthy friend or relative - to go and pick up the antiviral medication.

For more information on the National Pandemic Flu Service go to the NHS Choices Flu Service – Q&A.

You should call your GP directly if: 

• you have a serious underlying illness
• you are pregnant
• you have a sick child under one year old
• your condition suddenly gets much worse
• your condition is still getting worse after seven days (or five days for a child).

Antiviral Collection Points

Antiviral collection point opening over Christmas and New Year

There are eight pharmacies across Sheffield acting as antiviral collection points (ACPs).

• Only go to these collection points if you have a unique reference number or a prescription.
• Do not go if you have flu-like symptoms but send a flu friend to collect the antivirals.
• Do not go either if you don't have a unique reference number. You will not be admitted to the pharmacy or the centre if you haven't.

The Co-operative Pharmacy, 621 Middlewood Rd, Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 1TT
Open 8.45am - 6pm Monday to Friday

Wicker Pharmacy
Open every day: Open 8.30 - 10pm Monday - Saturday, Open 8.30 - 8pm Sunday.

Lloyds Pharmacy Crystal Peaks
Open every day: Open 8.30am - 6pm Monday to Wednesday, 8am - 8pm Thursday/Friday, 9am - 5.30pm Saturday, and 10am - 4pm on Sunday

Lloyds Pharmacy Stocksbridge
Open 9am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday, Open 9am - 12pm Saturday

Lloyds Pharmacy Wincobank Medical Centre, 205 Tyler Street Wincobank Sheffield S9 1BH
Open 8.30am - 6pm Monday to Friday

Lloyds Pharmacy, 333 Meadowhead Sheffield S8 7UP
Open 9am - 6.30pm Monday and Friday, 9am - 4.15pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 9am - 5.30pm Saturday

Lloyds Pharmacy, Jordanthorpe Health Centre, 1 Dyche Close Sheffield S8 8DJ
Open 8.30am - 6.15pm Monday to Friday, 9am - 1pm Saturday

Lloyds Pharmacy, 3 - 7 Alderson Road Sheffield S2 4UA
Opening hours: 8.45am - 10pm Monday to Saturday, 10am - 8pm Sunday

Vantage Pharmacy, 2 Ridgeway Road Manor Top Sheffield S12 2SS
Open 9am - 6pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 9am - 5.50pm Thursday, 9am - 4.30pm Saturday

Weldricks Pharmacy, 298 Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HS
Open: Mon - Fri 8.30a, - 6pm, Sat 9am - 1pm

Swine Flu & Pregnancy

Pregnant women are one of the higher risk groups for swine flu, as they are for all influenza viruses. It is therefore important for them to take precautions.

The NHS Choices website provides full and up-to-date advice for pregnant women and parents of young children.

• Swine Flu Advice for pregnant women
• Swine flu pregnancy and parenting Q&A
• Swine flu symptoms, including high-risk groups
• Chief Medical Officer's advice to pregnant women (32kb Word, opens in a new window)

Do your bit and find a ‘Flu Friend’

Public health chiefs at NHS Sheffield are urging people to find a ‘Flu Friend’ as part of their preparations should they get swine flu and need antiviral medication.
Find out more about Flu Friends

Key points about swine flu:

• In most cases in the UK swine flu causes a mild illness
• Flu is common - there are thousands of cases across the world every year. Swine flu is different because it’s caused by a new strain of the flu virus which most people do not have any immunity to.
• Symptoms of swine flu are similar to the symptoms of regular seasonal flu and include fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, coughing, sore throat, pain in muscles and joints, headache and chills. Some people with swine flu have also reported vomiting and diarrhoea.
• To help to limit the spread of swine flu it’s important to make sure that if you have symptoms, you don’t leave the house - don’t visit your GP or hospital - you should call the National Pandemic Flu Service 0800 1 513 100 (or textphone 0800 1 513 200) or visit www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu
• Hygiene measures are important to help to reduce the spread of all viruses, including the swine flu virus. This includes:
  • Covering your nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing and using a tissue when possible
  • Disposing of dirty tissues promptly and carefully
  • Maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus from your hands to your face or to other people
  • Cleaning hard surfaces (such as door handles) frequently using a normal cleaning product.
• If you’re not poorly and do not have any symptoms there’s no reason that you shouldn’t continue to go about your daily routine.
• If you want more general information about swine flu you can call the Department of Health’s automated swine flu information line on 0800 1513 513 or go to the Health Protection Agency’s website at www.hpa.org.uk.

Further information:

What is Swine Flu and how is it different from ordinary flu?

We’re ready to deal with pandemic flu

As an NHS organisation, we have to meet Department of Health guidelines that show we are ready to deal with pandemic flu.

Earlier this month, our Board agreed our latest plans that set out how we will deal with flu as it develops into the next phase. These plans take into account what leadership we have in place, how we will manage the ongoing situation and our ability to continue to provide care for patients and the public during an outbreak.

Our Board was satisfied that the plans were strong enough and clear enough and they approved them on September 1, 2009.

To see the plans, go here.