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Professional facing Q and A - Swine flu vaccinations announcement
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Last modified date:14 August 2009
This Q and A document sets out a series of questions and answers for health professionals covering the forthcoming vaccination programme against H1N1 pandemic influenza
Scientists have now developed a vaccine. Here we answer some of the most common questions about the vaccine and who will receive it first.
Select a section
Who will be vaccinated
Q: What are the priority groups?
People who are most at risk from swine flu need to be vaccinated first. These groups are, in priority order:
- Individuals aged between six months and up to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
- All pregnant women. The EMeA license will indicate whether the vaccine can be given to all pregnant women or whether it should only be offered at certain stages of pregnancy
- Household contacts of immuno-compromised individuals
- People aged 65 years and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
These groups have been identified because they are at highest risk of severe illness should they contract the swine flu virus. In practice, it is likely that as vaccines become available, groups 1-3 may be vaccinated concurrently, rather than in order of priority.
Frontline health and social care workers across the UK will also be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical risk group as they are at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to vulnerable patients.
Those staff eligible for seasonal flu vaccine, as set out in the Green Book, will be eligible for swine flu vaccination. This includes staff who have regular clinical contact with patients and who are directly involved in patient care. Examples of those groups who will be offered the vaccine include doctors, dentists, midwives and nurses, paramedics and ambulance drivers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and radiographers. Students and trainees in these disciplines, and volunteers who are working with patients, will also be included.
Q: Does asthma fit into the at risk group ‘chronic respiratory disease’?
Individuals suffering from asthma that requires continuous or repeated use of inhaled or systemic steroids or with previous exacerbations requiring hospital admission are considered for the purpose of the seasonal flu programme to have chronic respiratory disease.
The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) is awaiting the results of a study of patients hospitalised by swine flu before considering whether this definition should be broadened for swine flu.
Q: How do you define immunocompromised / immunosuppressed?
The definition of ‘immunocomprmised’ or ‘immunosuppression’ has been determined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) together with advice from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, British HIV Association, and is set out in Immunisation against infectious disease - 'The Green Book'.
Immunosuppression may be due to disease or treatment. Immunocompromised individuals may include patients undergoing chemotherapy leading to immunosuppression; Asplenia or splenic dysfunction; HIV infection at all stages; individuals treated with or likely to be treated with systemic steroids for more than a month (at a dose equivalent to prednisolene at 20mg or more per day (any age) or for children under 20kg a dose of 1mg or more per kg per day).
Q: How do you define a ‘household contact’?
A household contact is some who lives with someone whose immune system is compromised, such as someone with cancer or HIV/AIDS. It is important that they have the vaccine to help protect the at-risk person they live with.
Q: When will everyone else who isn’t in a priority group receive the vaccine? And why aren’t children included in the priority groups?
We have always said that prioritisation of different groups for vaccination will be based on the best possible scientific opinion. Two independent expert committees - the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JVCI) and the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) – have now provided this advice.
If a child has an underlying health condition and usually has the seasonal flu jab they will need to be vaccinated against swine flu. Otherwise it is important that we prioritise those who need it most.
The JCVI is looking at whether we need to extend the vaccination programme beyond the priority groups.
The vaccine
Q: What is the difference between the two vaccines?
We have contracts in place with two suppliers, Baxter and GSK, who have different methods of producing the vaccine.
The vaccine produced by Baxter is an inactivated whole virus vaccine. The GSK vaccine is an inactivated split virus vaccine. The GSK vaccine also contains an adjuvant to boost the immune response
Q: Will the vaccine give the recipient swine flu?
No. The vaccine does not carry a ‘live’ virus so it can’t give patients swine flu.
Q: What are the adverse reactions to the vaccine?
As with most vaccines, the most common side effects are a mild fever general aches and pains, a rash and feeling tired. These will usually go away within a day or two. If people are concerned about side effects, they should talk to their GP.
Q: Can swine flu vaccine be given at the same time as other vaccines?
Yes. The swine flu vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines including the seasonal influenza vaccine.
Health and Social Care Workers
Q: As a health care worker I have been identified as a priority group. Why should I receive the vaccine above anyone else?
Front line health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical at risk groups as they are at increased risk of infection from the nature of their work; and at increased risk of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients.
Q: I am concerned about giving the vaccine to pregnant women. How do I reassure them it is safe?
Epidemiological data for swine flu episodes shows that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe disease. This is why the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation advised that pregnant women are a high priority to receive the vaccine.
Pregnant women who fall into one of the clinical risk groups for seasonal influenza are routinely offered seasonal flu vaccine.
Both swine flu vaccines are inactivated, in other words they are not live. There is no evidence of increased risk from vaccinating pregnant women or those who are breast-feeding with inactivated vaccines.
While JCVI have advised that pregnant women should receive the vaccine they stated that this would be subject to the vaccine receiving a license from the European Medicines Agency.
Q: Can I offer those requesting (and not in priority groups) the vaccine anyway? I have stocks in my fridge.
The expert independent advice has identified the priority groups as they are most at risk from serious illness if they do contract the virus.
Preparations continue to be made to extend the programme beyond these initial priority groups and we are awaiting further advice from JCVI.
General swine flu questions
Q: What is the difference between seasonal flu and swine flu?
Seasonal flu occurs every year. Swine flu is a more dangerous virus that has spread quickly around the world causing a pandemic. Viruses like this are quite rare but can be far more dangerous than normal flu. There three flu pandemics in the 20th century, the last one in 1968.
Q: If someone has already had swine flu, do they still need to be vaccinated?
You can only be sure someone has had swine flu if it has been confirmed by a laboratory test. Otherwise they may have had normal flu or something else. Without that laboratory confirmation for swine flu then the vaccination should still administered.
Q: If the virus is mild, why are we purchasing enough vaccine for the whole population?
The swine flu virus is new and so we are all susceptible to catching it. Whilst most people with swine flu only have mild symptoms some can become more seriously ill.
While we are still learning more about swine flu it is right that we take a ‘safety first’ approach. We are working with clinical and scientific experts to better understand the virus. Their advice is that the best form of protection against a new virus is to vaccination people against it.
Q: I’m worried about swine flu but I’m not in a priority group – what do I do?
People in the priority groups are more at risk of becoming seriously ill. Most other people will only have mild symptoms.
If you are not in a priority group or are a front line health or social care worker eligible for the vaccine but think you may have swine flu, stay at home and contact the National Pandemic Flu Service via the link below or call 0800 1 513 100. They can then give you advice and, if necessary, provide you with antiviral drugs.
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