There has been a tremendous amount of talk about having the A(H1N1) vaccine - swine flu vaccine to you and me. In Birmingham, some group decorated the town with posters proclaiming it a weapon of mass destruction, that swine flu wouldn't kill you but that the vaccine would. Amidst the chattering classes, people gossip about so-and-so who took the vaccine and is now very sick in the hospital with swine flu. I have to roll my eyes. A few years back when I was involved in the pandemic flu planning, the most frequently asked question was "how long will it take for a vaccine to be available?" People were worried that they would have to face a communicable disease without man's best defence. Why the change of heart? When we don't have a vaccine for a diseae (e.g. HIV), people are screaming for it yet when we have it (e.g. MMR), people act like we're injecting poison. What is it about the 'flu vaccine that whips people up into a frenzy, making them blind to obvious? Vaccines prevent disease. The risks of swine flu far outweigh any risks from the vaccine. Swine 'flu can kill. By having the vaccine, you can't get swine flu and pass it onto someone else. So you are stopping the spread. You are saving lives.
The media have reported that in the USA, 87% of US adults expect their healthcare workers to be vaccinated with the swine flu vaccine. Yet, only 50% of healthcare workers would opt for vaccination. People support it in principle but they need to be encouraged to take it up. Part of the problem could be that swine flu is perceived to be a mild disease and people may think that it is not worth the effort. Some may even think that since they normally do not get seasonal flu, they are unlikely to fall ill from swine flu. This is a fallacy. While swine flu may only produce mild symptoms in most people, it can be deadly for the immunocompromised, the under 5's, elderly and for unborn babies. We have all heard about those who have died from swine flu. The numbers may not be as big as predicted but we have still have had people die. We have also had large numbers hospitalised with serious secondary infections. Children under 16 years are significantly more susceptible to the virus with up to 30% estimated to fall ill in the second wave. There could be up to 1,000 deaths and up to 35,000 further cases hospitalised. Protecting the vulnerable outweighs any side effects from a jab.
It is now the 2nd wave of the pandemic and as predicted - it takes on average 6 months to develop a vaccine - there was a vaccine ready for the UK government to use in its vaccine programme. This is separate to the seasonal flu programme. In the first round, the vaccine was given to priority groups - these are groups of people who have been identified as being the most vulnerable to swine flu. These groups include those aged between 6 months and 65 years who are in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk group (i.e. they have an underlying health condition that makes them vulnerable to 'flu), pregnant women and those over 65 years. Household contacts of the immunocompromised were also offered. There is clear evidence that vaccinating those people in at-risk groups prevents vulnerable people from suffering severe illness.
Health and social care professionals were part of the first round of vaccine. By the very nature of their work, health and social care professionals are at risk.
1. They are at increased risk of infection from patients. They are more likely to be exposed to swine flu than the rest of the population. While swine flu is generally mild, even health people can become seriously ill.
2. They are at increased risk of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients. Swine flu can lead to serious complications in people with underlying health conditions. Vaccinating the frontline health staff reduces the chance of staff transmitting the virus in the course of their duties and so we can stop vulnerable people from catching the virus.
3. By having the vaccine, staff can help reduce disruption to the NHS from staff absences. This is a tough winter as we have both swine flu and normal seasonal flu in circulation. There is some antedotal evidence that swine flu has left people susceptible to other winter bugs like chest infections and rhino viruses.
For the above reasons, it is crucial that health and social care professionals avail of vaccine. This includes all staff who have regular clincial contact with patients and those who are directly involved in patient care ( e.g. volunteers and students working with patients). If you are not a health professional and you are worried that you are in contact a lot with vulnerable groups (e.g. working with children), please ask your GP about it. There are plans that the vaccine programme will be rolled out to everyone in due course. It is being done in segments to cover the most at-risk groups first. As of December 2009, under fives are being offered the vaccine. This includes all children between 6 months and 5 years.
The myths still abound. Here are some of my myth busters to help put your mind at ease and reassure that the vaccine is a good thing. Just think of it this way, if you found out that you were exposed to Hepatitis B, you'd take the vaccine immediately, wouldn't you? Swine flu is no different. The risks of swine flu by far outweigh any risks from the vaccine.
Can the vaccine give you swine flu?
No, it cannot. The vaccine does not carry a 'live' virus so it cannot give you swine flu. There are actually two swine flu vaccines licensed for use in the UK - Baxter and GSK vaccine. Both contain inactive viruses - Baxter has an inactive whole virus whilst GSK is an inactive parts virus vaccine. Some people claim they got flu after a vaccine. It takes up to 5 days for the vaccine to work and so it is possible that they caught the flu before the vaccine and developed the symptoms before the vaccine had a chance to work.
Are there any side effects?
Swine flu vaccine is no different to other vaccines. The most common side effects are a mild fever, general aches and pains, a rash or feeling tired. These usually go away within a day or two. If concerned, see your doctor. However, if you read the small print on any pain killer or cough medicine pack, there are side effects listed there too. Yet most of us have never developed any side effects so it is very likely you won't either from the vaccine, so don't let that worry you. Just remember, swine flu is far worse and could make you or someone close to you very ill.
Will the vaccine protect me against future 'flu?
The swine flu vaccine will provide protection against swine flu for several years after vaccination. But it only protects against swine flu and will not protect you against 'normal' seasonal flu that circulates every year. These winter 'flus differ from year to year so you will still need to be vaccinated against those strains when they occur.
Is the vaccine safe?
Yes. All vaccines in Europe have to pass very stringent tests before they are granted a licence by the European Medicines Agency. Then they undergo clinical trials involving many thousands of people including elderly and young children. This shows that they are safe and effective. They are then constantly monitored when they are use in the general public. The risk of a serious reaction is very small and is by far outweighed by the risk of falling ill from swine flu.
In the 1970s, a swine flu vaccine was linked to Gullain Barre Syndrome in the United States. That vaccine was very different to the vaccines used today. Today's flu vaccines are checked and rechecked and have been shown to have no association with the disease. However, the virus itself, swine flu, has a small risk of developing Gullain Barre Syndrome.
Do I need the vaccine if I have already had Swine Flu?
Unless a diagnosis was confirmed by a lab test, it is difficult to say whether or not the illness you had was Swine Flu and not another type of flu-like illness.
I've had the seasonal flu vaccine, do I still have to have the swine flu vaccine?
Yes. They are two different viruses.
I never get flu. Do I really need the vaccine?
Even if you normally don't catch seasonal flu, you could catch swine flu. They are completely different viruses. Most of us have built up a resistence to the seasonal flu commonly in circulation each year. Swine flu is a new virus that we don't have a whole lot of immunity to (even though it is similiar to swine flu viruses we have had in the past, but that's a complicated story). Anyway, even if you are lucky enough to avoid normal flu, you can still get sick from swine flu. And by the way, flu is not a head cold. Flu is the illness that knocks you out and has you in bed for a couple of weeks. You can also be weeks recovering, feeling exhausted. Do avoid it! Protect yourself and your family!