HPA North West Urges: “Protect Yourself from Flu Before Winter Sets in”

26 October 2009

Everyone who is eligible for H1N1v (swine flu) or normal season flu vaccination should protect themselves and their families by taking up the offer of a jab.

That was the message from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) North West on the day the Department of Health launched the second phase of the roll-out of swine flu vaccination across England and Wales.

Supplies of H1N1v vaccine were distributed to hospital Trusts last week so that frontline healthcare workers and hospital patients with "risk factors" could be protected against swine flu.

Now swine flu vaccine supplies are being sent to GP practices so that immunisation can be offered to others who are deemed vulnerable including pregnant women, people with suppressed immune systems and household contacts of these "at risk" groups.

Professor Qutub Syed, Director, HPA North West, said: "H1N1v vaccine is being offered to those people who are at greatest risk of becoming seriously ill with swine flu. They are being given an opportunity to protect themselves and they should grasp it.

Seasonal flu

"However, whilst there has rightly been a lot of attention on swine flu, it should not be forgotten that normal seasonal flu is still with us and it can be just as serious as swine flu. Flu is not a bad cold. Three to four thousand people die from normal seasonal flu every winter in the UK. That is why it is so important for people who are eligible for a seasonal flu jab to seize the chance of immunisation when it is offered to them."

People are eligible for a free seasonal flu jab on the NHS if they are:

Aged 65 or older.
Live in a long-stay residential home
Care for people who are elderly or infirm
Have a history of chronic illness including heart conditions, kidney disease, chronic asthma or diabetes that requires medication.
Have lowered immunity to infection due to HIV, steroid medication or cancer treatment

Notes to editors

People who believe that they may have one or more of the "risk factors" for seasonal flu that are listed above should contact their family doctor if they have not routinely been offered a seasonal flu injection.

People seeking more information on swine flu should visit the NHS choices website.
http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/04April/pages/swineflulatest.aspx

Press release issued by Hugh Lamont, Communications Manager, HPA North West. Tel. 0151-482-5728 or 07764-906508

Last reviewed: 27 October 2009