Protect against swine flu with vaccine

GPs in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland will receive their first deliveries of the swine flu vaccine over the next three weeks.

Health officials are urging those eligible for the jab to get it and protect themselves and others from flu.

Dr Peter Marks, speaking on behalf of the NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, said: “If you are in one of the priority groups make sure you take the opportunity to have the vaccine when your GP offers it. The vaccine is the best way to protect against swine flu and the complications that may arise from the virus.

“Those who are offered the seasonal flu vaccine should make sure they take this up too and give themselves as much protection as possible this winter.

“We are also strongly encouraging frontline health and social care staff to get vaccinated. This will stop staff from passing the virus to those in their care as well as protecting them and their families.”

The vaccination programme will target those who are at the most risk of developing complications from swine flu as well as frontline health and social care staff. Frontline staff are both at increased risk of catching the virus and of transmitting the virus to those in their care.

Vaccination has already begun at hospitals across the country, including Leicester’s hospitals, where frontline staff and vulnerable patients started receiving the jab today.

Those members of the public who are identified as the priority groups eligible for the vaccine will be invited by their GP to get the jab. Your GP will also tell you whether you need to receive the vaccine as one jab or two. Children under 10 for example will need two jabs.

The priority groups, in order, are individuals from six months old up to 65 who are in the at-risk groups for seasonal flu; pregnant women and household contacts of people with compromised immune systems followed by people aged over 65 in the seasonal flu at-risk groups.

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