NORTHUMBERLAND residents who have health conditions such as asthma are being urged to protect themselves from seasonal and swine flu.
The vaccination programme has been rolled out over the past few weeks with GP surgeries in the county vaccinating frontline healthcare workers and their patients who fall into at risk categories against swine flu.
Julia Young, Flu Director for NHS
North of Tyne, said: “Although the number of antivirals we are giving out to treat swine flu is reducing, some people who have been more severely affected by the symptoms are still in hospital.
“People who are likely to be most severely affected by the virus including those who have long term health conditions and pregnant women, are being urged to have the swine flu vaccine as soon as possible.”
She added: “Whilst our immediate priority for the vaccine remains the people in at risk groups including pregnant women, household contacts of people with compromised immune systems, and health and social care staff, we will shortly be extending the campaign to include all young children under five.
“We are strongly advising anyone who is contacted by their GP to take up the offer of the vaccine. Vaccines save lives.”
Those who are at risk should be contacted by their GP and invited for a vaccination appointment in the next few weeks.
Those groups at risk from swine flu include:
• 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 e.g. people in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer.
• Those aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups.
This does not include otherwise healthy over 65s, since they appear to have some natural immunity to the virus.
Seasonal flu at-risk groups include:
• People over the age of 65 and those with a long term medical condition.
• People who are not in an at risk group and develop flu like symptoms are being reminded to use the National Pandemic Flu Service for fast access to information and antivirals by logging onto www.direct.gov.uk/pandemicflu or calling 0800 1 513 100.
There are arrangements in place for people who have difficulty accessing an ACP to have their antivirals delivered to their home.
These include those who don’t have access to transport and those with caring responsibilities.
People can contact NHS North of Tyne on 0191 2172545 and staff will arrange for delivery of antivirals where appropriate.
