Swine flu update

Child vaccination

Parents of under-5s will receive invitations to bring their children for their swine flu vaccination.

Children aged over 6 months, but who were still under 5 by the end of 2009, are being vaccinated because they are at a high risk of needing hospital treatment - and even intensive care - if they catch swine flu.

NHS organisations in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland estimate there are around 50,000 children in this age group.

Where GPs do not have the capacity for the extra work, some neighbouring GPs have volunteered to share the workload. Where gaps are identified, we have alternative arrangements, so every eligible child has access to the vaccination programme. Parents will receive an invitation to attend a vaccination session with their children and are urged to attend.

Vaccination of the under 5s began in December, while the swine flu jab was still being offered to the first groups of at-risk patients, who were identified in October last year. As swine flu deaths are still being reported in parts of the UK, the NHS is advising patients that it would be unwise to let down their guard. Vaccinating our under-5s will help protect them both now and against a future wave of swine flu.

Vaccination

The vaccination programme for priority patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland is progressing well since it began in mid--November. There is a good response to GPs' invitations to have the jab.

All eligible patients are urged to take the vaccine. It is a key weapon against the spread of the H1N1 virus, which is still proving life-threatening in some instances, especially to people with existing ill health.

People in the at-risk groups, whose condition is already known to their GPs, and who qualify for the swine flu vaccine, are being contacted by their GP and invited to take the vaccine. They are:-

 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*.

* For clarification of ‘seasonal flu at risk groups' please refer to the Department of Health leaflet, which you can download by using this link:- "Seasonal Flu - why you should have the vaccination" - and look under the question "Are you at greater risk from the effects of seasonal flu?" You will need Acrobat Reader to read these files.

** A swine flu and vaccination guide for pregnant women from the Department of Health http://www.leicestercity.nhs.uk/SwinefluPregnancy-pdf.cmsdoc

A leaflet about swine flu and vaccination from the Department of Health http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/Documents/SF-vaccination-leaflet.pdf

This information pack was prepared for parents and guardians to answer some of the frequently asked questions on swine flu. Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council will also be circulating this information through schools and childcare settings using their established networks.

To view the latest information on your nearest antiviral collection point click here.

The information pack can be downloaded here.