Summary

 

This page contains information concerning vaccination for Swine Flu, including advice and information on child vaccination.

 

 

Swine flu vaccination

 

Please follow link below for an update on swine flu vaccination:

http://www.leicestercity.nhs.uk/YourHealth-Updateonswineflu-Swinefluvaccination.cms| [External]

 

Swine flu symptoms continue to be unpleasant but mild for most healthy people but for pregnant women and those with health problems they can be more severe. These at-risk groups are more likely to need hospitalisation for complications if they get the disease. Some cases have been fatal.

 

The swine flu vaccine has been delivered to General Practitioner (GP) surgeries and those who are eligible to receive the vaccine are advised to book their appointment as soon as they are invited by their GP.

 

The vaccine is the best way to protect against swine flu and to reduce the risk of passing it to others.

 

Vaccination is available to the following groups:-

 

Group 1: if you are six months of age or above and you have a long-term health condition such as chronic lung, heart, kidney or liver disease

 

Group 2: you are pregnant (the vaccine can be given at any stage of pregnancy)

 

Group 3: your immune system is compromised because of a disease or treatment for a disease

 

Group 4: you live in the same house as someone whose immune system is compromised

 

Group 5: a healthy child aged 6 months and up to five years (that is, still aged 4 by 31 December 2009)

 

If you (or your child) is eligible, you will be contacted by your GP or your local National Health Service (NHS) and invited to a vaccination session.

 

For information on child vaccination please follow link below:

http://www.leicestercity.nhs.uk/YourHealth-Updateonswineflu-Mostrecentupdates.cms| [External]

 

Child vaccination
 

The vaccination programme for healthy children aged from 6 months up to 5 years has also begun and will continue into the New Year. Parents of eligible children are being invited to vaccination sessions by their GP or the local NHS.

 

It is important that children receive the vaccination in order to protect themselves and others from swine flu. Although reports say the rates of illness have fallen recently, the virus is still a threat to health, so it is still important to take advantage of the offer of vaccination. These children have a higher rate of hospital admissions for serious complications from swine flu, and there have been swine-flu related deaths in the age group in the UK.

 

For important information on why you should have your child vaccinated please click here.

 

For advice please follow link below:

http://www.leicestercity.nhs.uk/YourHealth-Updateonswineflu-Adviceforparents.cms| [External]

 

Advice for parents

 

If your child is aged from 6 months and is either:

 

Healthy and still under 5 by 31 December 2009, or
suffering from an underlying health condition, which makes your child eligible for the seasonal flu jab, then your child should receive vaccination against swine flu.  It is important that children receive the vaccination in order to protect themselves and others from swine flu. Although reports say the rates of illness have fallen recently, the virus is still a threat to health, so it is still important to take advantage of the offer of vaccination. This age group of children has a higher rate of hospital admissions for serious complications from swine flu.

 

To download a leaflet on vaccination for children aged 6 months up to 5 years please click here|  [External]

NHS organisations and the Health Protection Agency have worked with local authorities to share other, earlier information on swine flu with parents.

 

This information pack was prepared for parents and guardians to answer some of the frequently asked questions on swine flu.

 

The information pack can be downloaded here|. [External]