-A +A

Seasonal Flu update

December
19

Low Vaccine Uptake in Pregnant Women

Only one in four pregnant women has so far been vaccinated against flu, according to pre-Christmas figures from the UK's Health Protection Agency, leaving women in a precarious position if flu rates increase in coming weeks, when few supplies of vaccine will remain.  Other key findings from the HPA:

  • Weekly influenza activity remained low in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
  • In week 50 (ending 18 December), the weekly primary care ILI consultation rate was low in England (5.8 per 100,000), Wales (9.1 per 100,000), Northern Ireland (18.2 per 100,000) and Scotland (13.3 per 100,000).
  • The proportion of NHS Direct calls for cold/flu remained below the early warning threshold for influenza. The proportion of calls for fever was below threshold levels.
  • Two new acute respiratory disease outbreaks were reported in week 50 (one influenza A(H3N2) and one parainfluenza type 1).
  • 14 (1.5%) of the 917 respiratory specimens reported to Data Mart (England) tested positive for influenza in week 50 (four A(H3), nine A unknown subtype and one B). The proportion of positive samples for RSV remains high, with the highest positivity in the under five year olds. The proportion of samples positive for rhinovirus and hMPV increased, decreased for parainfluenza and remained stable for adenovirus.
  • No positive influenza detections were recorded in the UK sentinel GP schemes in week 50 2011.
  • Four new admissions to ICU with confirmed influenza were reported through the USISS mandatory scheme across the UK in week 50.
  • No ICU confirmed influenza deaths have been reported through the USISS mandatory scheme across the UK in week 50.
  • Excess all cause mortality remains within expected levels for this time of year for England, Wales and Scotland as calculated by the HPA.
  • Up to the week ending 18 December, 72.6% of people in England aged 65 years and over had received the 2011/12 influenza vaccine (provisional data). For those in a clinical risk group aged under 65 years, provisional uptake was 49.4%.
  • Amongst pregnant women, the provisional uptake was 25.7%.
  • Provisional data from the second monthly collection of influenza vaccine uptake by frontline healthcare workers show 39.9% were vaccinated by 30 November 2011.
  • Global influenza activity remains at low levels in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, with countries in the tropical zone mostly reporting low activity. Transmission in the temperate countries of the southern hemisphere is at inter-seasonal levels.
  • HPA guidance on the use of antiviral agents for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza this season has been published on the HPA website. 

    •  

    September
    12

    Flu Vaccine Now Available!

    We are one of the first UK practices to have received a stock of flu vaccine, and our drop-in and call-out services are therefore available with immediate effect. We vaccinate children and adults on a drop-in basis.

     

    September
    08

    Children's drop-in service

    This season, we are pleased to confirm that our drop-in service extends to children over the age of 6 months, with no appointment necessary. If you'd like to know when vaccines become available, please register for a notification, or check back from time to time...

    June
    24

    More children should be vaccinated against flu

    A report in the British Journal of General Practice estimates that 7000 lives would be saved each year in the UK, if children over six months and under five years of age were routinely vaccinated against flu.

    This is now normal practice in many other countries. The UK Department of Health is still evaluating the case for offering this on the NHS. In the meantime, our service offers this as a simple, low cost option in the private sector.

    May
    15

    Young and middle aged adults hit hardest last winter

    Young and middle aged adults were hit hardest by last winter’s flu outbreak, the Health Protection Agency has recently confirmed. Compared with other age groups, those aged between 15 and 64 were also most likely to have visited their GPs with flu symptoms, and their rates of hospital admission were also higher. 602 people across the UK died from confirmed influenza infection, and more than 70% of the fatal cases were in people aged 15 to 64 – outside the usual risk groups for severe complications of flu.

    There were also 25 deaths in children, and nine deaths in pregnant women. Only 37% of healthy pregnant women were vaccinated – most slipped through the net.

    March
    10

    2011 Southern Hemisphere flu vaccine is same as 2010/11 Northern Hemisphere vaccine

    The Southern Hemisphere flu season is approaching, and the vaccine now being offered is identical in composition to the current Northern Hemisphere vaccine. Unusually, this means that people travelling to the Southern Hemisphere can now receive flu vaccination before they go – something that is not normally possible because of the way that vaccines are licensed. If you're planning a trip to Southern Hemisphere destinations such as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa during the coming months, and have not already been vaccinated against flu this winter, protection could be well worthwhile.

    January
    13

    Vaccine stock update:

    We have good stocks of vaccines - there's no need to worry or check before you come to visit us. It really is a drop-in service - it is rare for anyone to wait longer than 15 minutes, and we don't take appointments...

    December
    12

    Flu Complications Warning

    Hospitals in the UK are on high alert for a rise in complications from H1N1 infection. The Department of Health has reminded doctors to use anti-viral treatment in suitable cases, and is also reminding people in risk groups (including pregnant women) to be vaccinated now. In addition, we believe everyone should have the opportunity to be vaccinated and avoid flu this winter - it's so easy. Although this year's vaccination programmes are almost at an end, there's still time: call us now, or drop in, if you'd like to be vaccinated. More...

    October
    15

    Department of Health Updates Advice for Pregnant Women and other risk groups

    ALL pregnant women should be vaccinated this season - unless they have already had the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine, in which case flu vaccine is "optional" or "not required".  

     

    Some people should ideally also receive the swine flu vaccine - it can be given at the same time. These are:
    - under 5's who belong to "at risk" groups, who've not had N1N1 vaccine previously.  
    - immunocompromised people who've not had N1N1 vaccine previously.  
    Immunocompromised people and under 13's who have never had seasonal flu vaccination need 2 seasonal flu doses, 4 weeks apart.

     

    September
    08

    Flu Vaccine Available Now!

    Our first vaccine doses have now arrived - the season has started!

    July
    15

    More progress towards a "universal" flu vaccine

    Scientists report significant progress towards the ultimate goal in flu vaccine technology - a single vaccine that could protect all of us against every strain of flu, and that would not need to be updated as strains change each year. Preliminary tests in mice show promising results, but the necessary technology will have to be tested much further before it could be used in humans. Find out more here.  

    May
    03

    Study confirms vaccination during pregnancy protects newborn babies

    A study of flu vaccination in 340 pregnant women has confirmed that immunity is passed "passively" to the newborn baby, providing protection lasting several weeks. This protection is important because newborn babies are vulnerable to flu infection, but cannot be vaccinated "actively" themselves until they reach the age of six months. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine and showed that the immunity of the newborn baby closely mirrored the immunity of the mother, confirming that vaccination of mothers before or during pregnancy is a sensible way of providing newborns with protection from flu viruses.

    March
    01

    Flu Vaccination Advised for All - US Government recommends

    The US Government health agency, the Centers for Disease Control, has expanded its recommendations for 2010 seasonal flu vaccination to include the entire US population for the first time. See here for more information.

    January
    03

    Register now for a Reminder!

    If you would like us to let you know when this year's seasonal flu vaccine becomes available, simply follow the links to register, or follow us on Twitter. We are always one of the first practices in the UK to receive our stocks of flu vaccine, and we'll let you know as soon as it arrives.

    The WHO has confirmed that next season's flu vaccines will all include protection against H1N1 swine flu.

    Bookmark/Search this post with