The Sid Valley Practice'Flu' immunisation Campaign 2003
FLU KILLS 20,000 Anually. Be Smart , Be immunised
If you are over 65 or at "risk" of FLU then please consider still having a vaccination. 72% of the over 65 in Sidmouth have been immunised for 2003. Although the official vaccination program is over, patients at risk can still request an immunisation, this year but don't delay!
Influenzae is now circulating in the community. There have been many reports of Flu this year, mainly in the North and Central parts of the UK, and often affecting children and young adults. Most cases are H3N2 Fujian- like strain a variant of the Panama strain. This year's vaccine will offer a reasonable protection against this years flu, or attenuates it's effect.
If you have any questions about the FLU vaccination please read below , if you stil have questions please speak to either the practice nurse or your own GP.
The Sid valley Practice is again providing the novel idea of using a dedicated message handling telephone line 571220 to book appointment's , Specific out of hours clinic 's will be held to undertake the vaccination program. ( Now Closed )
The camapaigne proved extremely successful last year and this year we already have over a thousand patient's booked to attend.
All patients over 65 were invited, along with those at specific risk ,e.g respiratory disease who are more at risk from the complications of flu.
Although influenzae was endemic last winter the incidence remained low , certainly helped by the high immunisation rates locally . The practice will be undertaking the same immunisation again in October 2002.
INFLUENZA IMMUNISATION POLICY and VACCINES FOR 2003
National policy for 2003 is that influenza immunisation should be offered to:
1. Those of all ages with:
Chronic heart disease
Chronic respiratory disease, including asthma
Chronic renal disease
Diabetes mellitus
Immunosuppression due to disease or treatment.
2. All aged 65 years and over.
3. Those living in long-stay residential and nursing homes or other long-stay facilities.
Basis of the policy
The aim of influenza immunisation policy is to reduce serious illness and deaths from influenza. The targeted groups are those most likely to suffer complications or to die from influenza.
Epidemiology of the disease
Every winter, mainly during a 6-8 week period, influenza causes acute respiratory illness affecting people of all ages. While for most people the illness is unpleasant, but usually self- -limiting and without complications, among the elderly and those with the risk conditions listed above, influenza carries an increased risk of serious illness and complications such as bronchitis -and pneumonia, often resulting in admission to hospital. In addition to the distress caused by the illness itself, serious influenza-related illnesses put pressure on health, social care and other services at an already busy time of year.
Mortality
Influenza is an important contributor to the excess mortality that occurs every winter in the UK.
Peaks of winter mortality follow closely the pattern of influenza activity.
Efficacy of the vaccine
Influenza vaccines are effective in preventing, or ameliorating, influenza, including in the elderly. -In UK studies, influenza vaccine has been shown to reduce complications, and reduce hospital admissions by as much as 60%, and mortality by around 40%, compared with matched -controls.
What has changed this year?
Previously influenza vaccine was recommended for everyone aged 75 years and over, in addition to those in the risk groups at (1) above and those living in residential and nursing homes, or other long-stay facilities. The only change in the recommendations has been the inclusion of otherwise fit people aged 65-74 years.
However, this year we also want to see the policy better implemented. We have set a target to immunise a minimum of 60% of people aged 65 and over.
Reasons for the change
Several studies have shown benefits from immunising people over 65 years of age. What was not certain was whether all the benefit was in those who were already in one of the established risk groups - i.e. those with certain underlying medical conditions - or whether there were significant health gains also for the 'otherwise fit' over 65s. Careful review of available data has led to the recommendation that the benefits in this group make it a worthwhile intervention for them as well as for the previously recommended risk groups.
The high importance being given to the overall campaign this year is to save illness and lives in those who are eligible but who have not previously been receiving their influenza immunisation each winter. Uptake studies suggest that influenza vaccine has been reaching only around half of those aged 75 years and over, and even fewer of those who were eligible in the younger 'risk' groups.
Although it was not the reason for the change, extending the age recommendation to all people aged 65 and over does allow those at higher risk within that age range to be identified more easily so that they are more likely to receive their vaccine.
Influenza vaccine composition for 2003
Flu vaccine strains are recommended by the World Health Organisation following careful mapping of flu illness as it travels the world. This monitoring is continuous and allows experts to make predictions of which strains are most likely to cause influenza outbreaks in the Northern Hemisphere in the coming winter.
In recent years the strains in the vaccine have been a very good match with circulating strains and have offered good protection.
QUESTIONS SOMETIMES ASKED BY PATIENTS
Q. Flu is not so bad/I've had flu in the past and survived/I'm pretty fit for my age. Why do I need a flu vaccine?
A. Because flu is more than just a heavy cold. Though not usually serious in younger people, as you get older it can really knock you out.
Q. I had a flu vaccine before and I still got flu.
A. It probably wasn't flu. There are many other respiratory infections around every winter -flu is just one of them, but it is usually worse than the others and there is a vaccine to prevent it. Unfortunately the flu vaccine won't prevent the other infections, but it will stop you getting flu.
Q. I had a flu vaccine before and it gave me flu.
A. Wrong - it can't. There is no active virus in a flu vaccine so it can't cause flu. You could have had one of the other viruses referred to above. Or very occasionally you could have caught flu before the vaccination took effect. Vaccinations are given before the flu season usually starts, but occasionally influenza appears earlier than expected.
Q. I had a flu vaccine before and it made me ill.
A. Flu vaccine can cause some discomfort and swelling at the site of the injection. On rare occasions a flu immunisation can produce a temperature and aching muscles, sometimes with joint pains, beginning a few hours after the injection and lasting up to 2 days. Other reactions are very rare. If you had a serious reaction, however, you should discuss with your GP whether you should have the vaccine again.
Q. What other reactions can flu vaccines cause?
A. In people who have a severe hypersensitivity to hens' eggs the vaccine may cause a reaction. Neurological symptoms - called the Guillain Barre' syndrome - have been reported very rarely after influenza immunisation. This is estimated to occur once for every one million doses given.
Q. I can't eat eggs. Should I have the vaccine?
A. Food intolerance alone is not a contra-indication to having the vaccine.
Q. Will I have to pay for the vaccine?
A. No - unless you choose to go to a private doctor or clinic.
Q. I heard you can now treat flu.
A. One antiviral drug has been available for treating flu for a long time, others are either recently licensed or in development. They may shorten the symptoms of flu but only by about a day on average. If you are in one of the risk groups 'prevention is better than cure'.
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