The practice has received a limited supply of swine flu vaccine. Guidance from the Department of Health states that there are priority groups which require immunisation. The practice will follow these guidelines. Should you require swine flu vaccination please contact the surgery for an appointment or ask during any consultation that you may already have booked. Please do not ask to be vaccinated if you do not meet the necessary criteria which are detailed below.
The following groups should be prioritised for vaccination in the following order:
- Individuals aged over six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu clinical at risk groups
- All pregnant women
- Household contacts of immuno-compromised individuals
- People aged 65 years and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine at-risk groups
Chronic respiratory disease, including asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) including chronic bronchitis and emphysema, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung fibrosis, pneumoconiosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- Asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission
- Children who have previously been admitted to hospital for lower respiratory tract disease.
Chronic heart disease
- Congenital heart disease, hypertension with cardiac complications, chronic heart failure, individuals requiring regular medication and/or follow up for ischaemic heart disease
Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic kidney failure, nephrotic syndrome, kidney transplantation, chronic kidney diseases stages 3-5
Chronic liver disease
- Cirrhosis, biliary artesia, chronic hepatitis.
Chronic neurological disease
- Stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
Diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes requiring insulin, oral hypoglycaemic drugs and diet controlled diabetes
Immunosuppression
- Immunosuppression due to disease ot treatment
- Patients undergoign chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression
- Asplenia or splenic dysfunction
- HIV infection at all stages
- Individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month at a dose equivalent to Prednisolone at 20mg or more per day (any age) or for children under 20kg a dose of 1mg or more per kg per day
Some immunocompromised patients may have a suboptimal immunological response to the vaccine
Healthcare workers with direct patient contact
- Doctors
- Dentists
- Midwives and Nurses
- Paramedics and Patient Transport Staff
- Occupational Therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Radiographers
- Students and trainees in these disciplines and volunteers who are working with patients must also be included
Social care staff who are employed to provide personal care to children and adults, both in care homes and in the community
- Care home staff on nursing/residential homes who provide personal care to residents
- Domiciliary care workers who provide social care to service users in their own homes
- Personal assistants employed to provide personal care to a single service user
- Students and trainees in these disciplines
Who Will Immunise?
Those <65 years in clinical at-risk groups - General practice
Those aged 65 and over in clinical at-risk groups - General Practice, Community Services
Pregnant Women - General Practice
Household contacts of immuno-compromised individuals - General Practice
Health and Social Care Staff - Occupational Health led service (if available), General Practice