Hoveton and Wroxham Medical Centre
Swine flu Immunisation Programme
Swine flu is a completely new virus to which very few people are likely to have immunity. It has occurred at a time of the year when seasonal flu isn’t around, and may affect more people than seasonal flu. It might become more serious. The seasonal flu vaccination does not protect against swine flu.
The vaccine to protect against swine flu will be available later in the winter and the following people have been prioritised for vaccination in the following order:
· people aged six months and up to 65 years of age in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
· all pregnant women (depending on the licence for the vaccine)
· household contacts of immunocompromised people
· people aged 65 years and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups.
A limited supply of vaccines will be delivered in Norfolk over a three week period from 26 October.
As the vaccine is limited to the priority groups we will be getting in contact with patients in these groups to offer an appointment when we have received supplies.
Further information can be obtained from:
WWW.norfolk-pct.nhs.uk
If you would like information on Swine flu - tel : 0800 1513 513
If you feel like you may have swine flu you can telephone the new National Pandemic Flu service on : 0800 1513 100 or visit the website - www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu. Patients who contact this number and have swine flu symptoms will be given aunique access number and told where their nearest antiviral collection point is. They should ask a 'flu friend' who doesn't have swine flu to go to pick up the antivirals. The flu friend must show their own ID as well as that of the patient.
If you have any of the following please contact your doctor at the surgery rather than using the National Pandemic Flu Service :
- you have a serious underlying illness
- you are pregnant
- you have a sick child under 1 year
- your condition suddenly gets much worse
- your condition isstill getting worse after 7 days
A swine flu question and answer document for patients is available on www.nhs.uk/conditions/pandemicflu/pages/QA.