Ten Things To Know About Swine Flu
We have been inundated with Swine Flu info over the last few months but may people are left asking do we have the vaccine? Should we not have the vaccine?
Here are the ten things you need to know about Swine Flu.
In a major step, there is now a vaccine available to fight swine flu this is the first pandemic for which we have had vaccine to protect people.
The vaccine uses an inactivated form of the virus so it cannot make you sick. The vaccine will work by tricking the immune system into thinking it has been infected with the H1N1 swine flu virus so that it creates antibodies against it.
The first people to be called for the swine flu vaccine will be:
- People aged between six months and 65 years in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups,
- All pregnant women,
- People who live with those whose immune systems are compromised by a disease or treatment for a disease, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS,
- People aged 65 and over in the seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups.
- Frontline health and social care workers will also be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical at-risk groups. It is important to note that health and social care workers are both at an increased risk of catching swine flu and of spreading it to other at-risk patients.
People in at-risk groups include those with chronic respiratory disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic heart disease, such as heart failure, chronic kidney disease, such as kidney failure, chronic liver disease, such as chronic hepatitis, chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson's disease, or diabetes requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs.
People in at-risk groups are far more likely to have serious health complications if they catch swine flu. For example, pregnant women are considerably more likely to develop complications and be hospitalised with swine flu.
Possible complications from swine flu include pneumonia (an infection of the lungs), difficulty breathing and in the very worst cases, may result in death. The common side effects of the vaccine are a sore arm, fatigue, headache or dizziness.
By having the vaccine you are not only protecting yourself, but also your family and those around you.
You can only be certain that you have had swine flu if it was confirmed by a laboratory test.
Otherwise, you may have had normal flu or something else. Unless you know for sure that you have had swine flu, and are in one of the high-risk groups, you should have the vaccination.
If you are in a high-risk group, you will be contacted by your GP inviting you to go to an immunisation clinic or make an appointment at their surgery – either by letter or in some instances by text or phone (depending on postal strikes).
The first wave of vaccination for priority groups should be completed by early December and the Department of Health will look at expanding the priority groups depending on how the pandemic evolves.
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