About the swine flu vaccine

Vaccines have been developed to protect against the virus that causes swine flu. There are two different brands of vaccine – Pandemrix and Celvapan. Many people given the Pandemrix vaccine will only need one dose. People who have the Celvapan vaccine will need two doses three weeks apart.

Is it the same as the seasonal flu vaccination?

 No. The swine flu vaccine is different from the seasonal flu vaccination that’s offered every year. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against swine flu. If you are usually advised to have the seasonal flu vaccination, you should have it. You may be offered the swine flu vaccine as well.

Who will get the vaccination first?

The vaccine is being offered first to people who are most likely to become seriously ill if they catch swine flu. These people are in the following priority groups:

1. Adults and children over six months of age who have a long-term health condition, including:

• Chronic lung disease Chronic heart disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver disease
• Chronic neurological diseases
• Diabetes mellitus
• Immunosuppression caused by a disease or treatment for a disease. For example, this may include people who do not have a spleen, and people who are on immunosuppressant treatment or are taking high doses of systemic steroids.

2. Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy

Being pregnant can put you more at risk of being seriously ill if you catch swine flu. So far, evidence suggests that pregnant women are four times more likely to develop serious complications from swine flu and up to five times more likely to need to go to hospital. The risks of flu are highest at the later stages of pregnancy.

3. People who live in the same house as someone whose immune system is compromised by disease or treatment

If you live with someone who is having treatment for cancer, for example, and you catch swine flu, they might catch it from you and become very ill.

If you have a severely compromised immune system, ask the people you live with to think about getting vaccinated to help protect you against catching swine flu. If you are unsure about whether you should be vaccinated, speak to your GP or practice nurse. The vaccine is also being offered to health and social care staff who may be in close contact with people in the above groups.

Who can’t have the swine flu vaccine?

There are only a few people who cannot have the swine flu vaccine. The vaccines should not be given to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any component of the vaccine. If you are worried that this may apply to you, talk to the practice nurses.

What about people with egg allergies?

The Pandemrix vaccine is prepared in hens’ eggs in the same way that seasonal flu vaccines are. It should not be given to people who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (experiencing shock or difficulty breathing) after being exposed to egg products. The Celvapan vaccine is not prepared using eggs, so you should have this vaccine if you have a severe allergy to eggs.

What about everyone else?

People who aren’t in the priority groups listed may be offered the vaccine at a later stage. The Government has ordered enough vaccine for everyone in the country if the situation requires it.

What else do I need to know?

Are there any side-effects?

All vaccinations can produce side-effects such as redness, soreness and swelling at the site of the injection. Flu vaccines can cause symptoms like fever, headache and muscle aches, but they are much milder than the flu itself and only last a day or so.

If you think that you or someone you know has experienced a more serious side-effect to Pandemrix or Celvapan, please report it to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency at www.mhra.gov.uk/swineflu. The vaccine is not live and cannot cause swine flu.

But how can we be sure these new vaccines are safe and effective?

Pandemrix and Celvapan are both licensed vaccines. Similar vaccines containing another flu virus strain (H5N1) have been clinically tested in trials involving over 5,000 people, including older people. When they licensed the vaccines, the European Commission carefully considered all the evidence and recommended that they could be used. The trials show that people tolerate the vaccines well and produce enough antibodies to provide protection.

Experience with seasonal flu vaccines has shown that changing the strain of virus in a vaccine does not substantially affect the safety profile of the vaccines.

Is the vaccine safe for pregnant women?

The European Medicines Agency has said Pandemrix and Celvapan can be given to pregnant women. Pregnant women are recommended to have the swine flu vaccine because they are at greater risk of being seriously ill with swine flu. They also have a higher risk of needing to go to hospital if they catch swine flu. These risks increase during the later stages of pregnancy.

If you are about to give birth, having the swine flu vaccine could help you avoid catching swine flu and then passing it to your baby.

Do I still need the swine flu vaccine if I’ve already had swine flu?

Only the very early cases of swine flu were confirmed by a laboratory test, so most people cannot be certain they have had swine flu. People in the priority groups should still have the vaccine unless they had a positive test for swine flu.

What should I do now?

 If you are in one of the priority groups for the swine flu vaccination described on pages 5 and 6, you will be invited to go to an immunisation clinic or to make an appointment at your surgery.

Not everyone in the country will get their vaccine at exactly the same time, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from your GP surgery straightaway.

However, if after a few weeks you think you should have received a vaccine and you have not, get in touch with your GP surgery.

Depending on your personal circumstances, and which vaccine you are given, you may require two doses. Your GP will tell you whether you need to make a follow-up appointment for a second dose.

If you think you have swine flu

In England Visit

www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu Call the National Pandemic Flu Service: 0800 1 513 100

Textphone: 0800 1 513 200 (for people who are deaf or hard of hearing)