New vaccine offer as Camden health chief warns swine flu is on its way back

Wednesday October 13, 2010

By TOM FOOT

PREGNANT women in Camden are being offered the winter flu jab for the first time –after experts warned swine flu is coming back.

The traditional winter flu vaccine – normally available only to the over 65s – has this year been mixed with the swine flu vaccine to protect against the H1N1 virus.

NHS Camden’s director of public health Quentin Sandifer said pregnant women with swine flu would be at risk of “severe disease and flu-related hospital admissions”, adding: “This year, the swine flu virus will be one of the most common types of flu going around. 
As we know this virus can pose additional risks to pregnant women, we are recommending this year, that all pregnant women are vaccinated.”

Massive stockpiles of the vaccine – brought at huge cost to the NHS from pharmaceutical company Glaxosmithklyne – were put in storage after the swine flu scare died down.

In a report in April, NHS Camden chief executive Liz Wise said: “Due to lack of confidence in the vaccine a large number of people did not turn up to pre-booked appointments which resulted in a waste of resource and vaccine. There were confusing messages regarding doses and lack of testing of the vaccine.”
Pregnant women should ask their GP or pharmacist for details.