Menu
21/10/2009
Swine Flu Vaccination Programme Begins
NHS Hospitals will begin vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and their 'high risk' patients against swine flu from today.
The vaccination programme will be rolled out over the next few weeks with GP surgeries receiving deliveries from Monday.
Around two million frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine. This group is at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients.
High risk groups being prioritised are people aged six months to 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups, pregnant women, cancer patients, people with compromised immune systems plus household contacts and people aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups.
Patients will be contacted by their GPs if they fall into one of the at risk categories.
The GSK vaccine (Pandemrix) will be offered to the vast majority of people. It has been licensed and approved by the European regulators. Most people will need only one dose of this vaccine for protection.
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 urged 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."
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.
(GK/BMcC)
The vaccination programme will be rolled out over the next few weeks with GP surgeries receiving deliveries from Monday.
Around two million frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine. This group is at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients.
High risk groups being prioritised are people aged six months to 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups, pregnant women, cancer patients, people with compromised immune systems plus household contacts and people aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups.
Patients will be contacted by their GPs if they fall into one of the at risk categories.
The GSK vaccine (Pandemrix) will be offered to the vast majority of people. It has been licensed and approved by the European regulators. Most people will need only one dose of this vaccine for protection.
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 urged 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."
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.
(GK/BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
22 September 2008
Scottish Government Pledges Cap On Surgery Waiting Times
Scottish patients may soon have a legal guarantee that they will wait no longer than 12 weeks for surgery. The Scottish Government's Patient Rights Bill proposes a strict limit on how long they have to wait from their surgical referral to receiving their operation.
Scottish Government Pledges Cap On Surgery Waiting Times
Scottish patients may soon have a legal guarantee that they will wait no longer than 12 weeks for surgery. The Scottish Government's Patient Rights Bill proposes a strict limit on how long they have to wait from their surgical referral to receiving their operation.
17 November 2011
Flu Vaccination Delayed For 'More Advice'
The Department of Health has said on Thursday that it needs further advice from the committee looking into the flu vaccine before it can roll out a larger programme. The announcement follows a request from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to look at whether the flu vaccination programme should be extended to healthy children.
Flu Vaccination Delayed For 'More Advice'
The Department of Health has said on Thursday that it needs further advice from the committee looking into the flu vaccine before it can roll out a larger programme. The announcement follows a request from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to look at whether the flu vaccination programme should be extended to healthy children.
03 June 2011
Long Emergency Waiting Times Linked To Increased Risk
Long emergency department waiting times are associated with an increased risk of hospital admission or death within seven days among non-admitted patients, finds a study published on bmj.com.
Long Emergency Waiting Times Linked To Increased Risk
Long emergency department waiting times are associated with an increased risk of hospital admission or death within seven days among non-admitted patients, finds a study published on bmj.com.
30 June 2003
BMA backs 'non-compulsory' triple MMR vaccine
A new BMA report has backed the practice of offering triple dose MMR vaccines to children and found that single dose treatment could leave patients open to greater risk of infection.
BMA backs 'non-compulsory' triple MMR vaccine
A new BMA report has backed the practice of offering triple dose MMR vaccines to children and found that single dose treatment could leave patients open to greater risk of infection.
14 August 2014
30 Women Recalled For Breast Screening Over Doctor Concerns
Up to 30 women are to be recalled for breast cancer screenings after five patients treated by the same doctor developed the disease. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust has identified the group of 30 women from a total of 626 that were seen between 2011 and 2014. It is understood that the women need "urgent appointments" for reassessment.
30 Women Recalled For Breast Screening Over Doctor Concerns
Up to 30 women are to be recalled for breast cancer screenings after five patients treated by the same doctor developed the disease. Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust has identified the group of 30 women from a total of 626 that were seen between 2011 and 2014. It is understood that the women need "urgent appointments" for reassessment.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
