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Swine Flu [Updated 21st October]

 

Swine flu vaccination programme starts

NHS Hospitals will begin vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and their patients who fall into at risk categories against swine flu from today. The vaccination programme will be rolled out over the next few weeks with GP surgeries receiving deliveries from Monday (26 October).

The following at risk groups will be prioritised in the following order

1. People aged over six months and under 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups
2. All pregnant women
3. Household contacts of people with compromised immune systems e.g. people in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer
4. People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups. This does not include otherwise healthy over 65s, since they appear to have some natural immunity to the virus.

The Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, said:

"Our best line of defence against swine flu is the vaccine. I’m very pleased to say that the UK is one of the first countries in the world to start vaccinating against this virus."

“The independent committee of experts in the UK has recommended that all those in the at risk groups should be offered the swine flu vaccine. It is also being offered to frontline health and social care workers to protect them and their patients and ensure the NHS is staffed should it come under pressure this winter.”

Sir Liam Donaldson, the 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 - it will help prevent people in clinical risk groups from getting swine flu and the complications that may arise from it."

"It's important for frontline health and social care workers to have the vaccine. It will help prevent them and their families getting the virus from patients, it will stop them passing the virus onto their patients, it will potentially protect them from mutated strains and it will reduce the disruption to NHS services caused by people being absent due to illness."

 

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.

 

Pandemic Vaccine Priority for Most at Risk

More than 11 million people in England will be targeted first.

The priority groups who will be first in line for vaccination against swine flu will include pregnant women, frontline health and social care workers, and everyone in at-risk groups aged over six months, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced today.

This follows advice from independent experts on who should be first in line for vaccination.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation reviewed the evidence and advised the Department of Health on the crucial risk groups to be offered vaccination in order to reduce the rate or possibility of serious illness.

This advice was also scrutinised and endorsed by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE).

The following groups will be prioritised in this order (numbers given are approximate and are for England only):

1. People aged over six months and under 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups (about 5 million people).
2. All pregnant women, subject to licensing conditions on trimesters (about 0.5 million people).
3. Household contacts of people with compromised immune systems e.g. people in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer (about 0.5 million people).
4. People aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups (about 3.5 million people). This does not include otherwise healthy over 65s, since they appear to have some natural immunity to the virus.

Vaccination of frontline health and social care workers (approximately 2 million people) will begin at the same time as the first at-risk group, and will continue for as long as necessary. This group is at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients. Protecting these people will help the NHS workforce to remain resilient and able to treat sick patients. 

Preparations continue to be made to extend the programme beyond these initial priority groups, and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation will consider this matter further and report back in due course.

Health Secretary, Andy Burnham, said:

"The UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive a vaccine supply,  thanks to contracts put in place by the Government in advance of the pandemic.

"Ministers from all four nations have today accepted the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on priority groups for H1N1 vaccination.

"We are now working with BMA and NHS organisations to reach a comprehensive swine flu vaccine implementation plan for this first stage of the programme.

"Although the virus has so far proved to be mild in most people, for others it has been more serious.  By vaccinating high risk groups first, we aim to protect those most vulnerable to this virus.

"Our decisions at all times are based on advice from the most eminent specialists, and this will continue to be the case as we go forward."

Details of how the vaccination programme will be delivered are being finalised, but listing the priority groups will enable the NHS and social care sector to plan for the vaccination programme.

Supplies will be delivered as soon as they become available but, due to natural limitations in vaccine production, the groups most vulnerable to this new strain of influenza need to be prioritised.

Licensing

The vaccination programme is expected to begin in the Autumn, subject to the vaccine being licensed by the European Medicines Agency. The EMEA has strict processes in place for licensing pandemic vaccines.  The vaccine will not be used until it is licensed.  Manufacturers anticipate that licenses may be granted in late September or October. Vaccination will commence as soon as possible once licences are granted.

Risk benefit analysis

Experts have advised on the most vulnerable groups and completed thorough risk benefit analyses. The virus has so far disproportionately affected people in the at-risk groups outlined. Therefore, our advice is that these groups would clearly benefit from this vaccine at an early opportunity.

Whilst children are also disproportionately affected by swine flu, the vast majority make a full recovery. As such, the experts do not advise that children, other than those in at-risk groups, should be vaccinated initially.

Next steps

Decisions on vaccinating the wider healthy population will depend on the evolution of the pandemic as well as new and emerging clinical data on the use of the vaccine. This will be kept under close review.

Further operational guidance to the NHS on the roll out of the programme will be made available in the next few weeks. The Department of Health is working with the BMA and NHS organisations to reach a comprehensive swine flu vaccine implementation plan.

People in the priority groups outlined do not need to take any action yet. Further announcements will be made when the vaccination strategy is ready, and people who need a vaccine will be contacted.

 

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

 

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

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 S102HS
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)

 

Fever. Cough. Headache?

GOT FLU?
STAY AT HOME

If you are feeling unwell and have flu like symptoms it is important that you do not go to A&E.

If you experience a sudden fever, cough or shortness of breath or have a headache, sore throat, tiredness, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, runny nose or loss of appetite you may have swine flu.

For most people this is a mild illness and you should start to feel better after a few days without needing to go to your GP or A&E.

Help yourself and others by not spreading the virus.

The best thing you can do is stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take over-the-counter flu remedies to help relieve the symptoms.

It is particularly important that you talk to your doctor if you think you have swine flu and are pregnant, very young, over 65, or have long-term conditions such as asthma or diabetes.

 

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.
  

 

For up to date information call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513.

NHS swine flu advice: www.nhs.uk

Further information:

Useful contacts and websites

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

Swine Flu leaflet

 

[Last updated: 30/09/09, 09:30]

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