swine flu

[k8bailey]

Ok so I probably sound v.paranoid but i'm worried about getting swine flu. I have congenital heart disease and my one year old daughter has had various problems with weight gain. I work in a college, and my daughter attends nursery, so I think we're more than likely going to come into contact with it at some point

Does any one know if and when people will get vaccinated against swine flu? And who would be first to get the vaccine?

[zzxxee]

i think the vaccine is due sept anyone with respiritory problems is diabetic or heart problems like you will i would imagine have priority

[k8bailey]

thats good, thanks zzxxee.

[carlton23]

I too have heart disease, Prostate big C, and COPD, also a pacemaker, so I know what you mean. I hope the vaccine arrives before I go.

[daffy654]

K8bailey,you will be at the head of the queue for the vaccine due to your heart disease,i'm not entirely sure about your daughter though.

Carlton,i'm very sorry to hear of your illnesses.I too have COPD(emphysema) and have been told that anyone with reduced immunity or respiratory disease/heart disease etc will be offered the vaccine as soon as it is available.The reports have said it will be autumn time before that happens.

[redcrx]

hi K8, unless they are giving the under 5s (who are catagorised as high risk at the moment) the vaccine then i think it would just be you getting it when its available.

[k8bailey]

Carlton and Daffy I'm sorry about your health probs they certainly make mine and my daughters seem insignificant. I hope you both manage to avoid the swine flu! Shame the vaccine will take so long.

Hi Red, looks like I'll just have keep my fingers crossed that they decide to do under 5s too, there's no reason she's be more at risk than any other child, I just want to protect her, poor kid just seems to have had more than her fair share of illnesses already. (not that you'd know it to look at her now - chasing the poor cat around!)

[redcrx]

lol poor cat, ours put up with it to a point, then hide.
weve got the first case of swine flu (or whats being reported as SF) at nursery today so im now on watch for signs. Little CRX missed his last big visit to London because of chicken pox and we have another trip and hotel booked for next weekend so fingers crossed we either avoid it or get it over with before then.

[theprof]

I've had reason to familiarise myself with the current UK vaccination timetables and I can confirm that compromised patients - you meet the criteria k8bailey - should be called up for vaccination sometime between mid-September to late October.

[Ice.Maiden]

For those in the high-risk groups, the new vaccine should be of benefit - but not to all. Like any flu vaccine, there are those who'll have reactions to it, and it perhaps wouldn't work on everyone anyway
Funnily enough, I'm just getting over flu atm. I was tested for swine flu because I was attending the hospital for unrelated things but which could've been made worse if I'd picked this latest virus up.
The whole thing's bothered me, but I've calmed down about it now, because we've had Asian flu, bird flu and all sorts. Unfortunately, some contract it or die of flu anyway, but I think we need to keep a sense of proportion and calm. I hope the new vaccine's going to help those with respiratory problems though, or anyone with a weakened immune system. x

[pinktwink]

oh Ice hope you are feeling better. First people to be vaccinated will be the government and frontline medical staff. Then those in the vulnerable or high risk category

[Ice.Maiden]

Hi pink - and absolutely.
The trouble with airborne viruses is that where you get big groups of people together, obviously it makes the chances of catching whatever higher, but this really can't be avoided.
If no one went to school, college, uni, work places, shopping etc., etc., the country'd grind to a disastrous halt.
The medical and security personnel need to come first, followed by anyone in the high-risk group, but the flu's already spreading, and you could pass someone in the street with it and be unaware. Short of cordoning off every hamlet, village and town, so that each area becomes like the Plague Village once did, then I believe that we'll just have to sit it out and do the best we can with the resources available.

[pinktwink]

indeed have been keeping an eye on the UK stats as yee are our nearest neighbour. Was very alarmed to see UK buying so many extra body bags is it really necessary?? I hope not

[Ice.Maiden]

It's spreading everywhere pink - but flu does that. I'm not saying it isn't a bad strain, but the media hype isn't helping matters.
What I believe the government shouldve done, is to anticipate the outbreak sooner. No one can convince me that they didn't hear about it before the rest of us, and the vaccines should've been put into motion long before it reached this stage.