Swine flu jags start

Oct 23 2009 by Julie Watt, Dumfries Standard Friday

SWINE flu vaccinations started in Dumfries and Galloway this week.

Frontline health and social care workers were the first to be offered the jabs.

And more than 19,000 people across the region who are in clinical at-risk groups will receive a letter from their GP inviting them to attend for vaccination over the coming weeks.

Dr David Breen, Consultant in Public Health Medicine, said: “I would urge everyone who is being offered the vaccine to take up the offer.

“We should not be complacent about the impact of H1N1 in Dumfries and Galloway.”

He added: “The vaccination is the best defence we have against the increasing spread of the illness – the key message here is by protecting yourself you will be protecting others.”

Eleven people in the region have needed hospital treatment due to the effects of the virus since the pandemic began.

One of those, a 27-year-old man, has been transferred to another hospital after spending a week fighting for his life on a ventilator at a high dependency unit in Dumfries Infirmary.

A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: “The seriously ill male patient who was being treated in DGRI’s high dependency unit this week has been transferred to a hospital closer to his home area in the Midlands.

“There are currently no patients confirmed with H1N1 being treated in hospital.”

The NHS has advised people to wait for the invitation from their GP for the vaccination programme.

Those on the at risk register, as defined by the Scottish Government, include those who have long term conditions such as chronic lung, heart, kidney, liver or neurological disease or diabetes and pregnant women.

The public can access advice regarding Swine flu via www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu or on 0800 1 513 513.