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Vaccination

Vaccination is an important element of a long term pandemic flu plan. However, statistics from the development of a vaccine for the swine flu pandemic indicated that uptake was low:

Pandemic H1N1 (2009/10) Influenza Vaccination Programme, Vaccine Uptake in England – Cumulative Data to 28 Feb 2010
Clinical Risk Groups (including Pregnant Women) and Healthy Children Under 5 years
Source: GP Practice Data Collection Via the ImmForm Website

% Uptake Clinical Risk Groups, including Pregnant Women, all ages (dose 1 Pandemrix®): 37.1%
% Uptake Healthy Children Under 5 (dose 1 Pandemrix®): 20.4%

Source: Department of Health, 18 March 2010
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_114203

In addition, a new strain of the pandemic influenza (H1N1) virus has emerged in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand in the second and third quarters of 2010.

The beginning of 2011 has seen many people unable to gain access to the season flu vaccine (which includes the H1N1 strain) due to local shortages. In fact, the Government has approved using leftover vaccine from the swine flu pandemic 2009/10 in an attempt to try to plug the shortfall in jabs this winter. Despite this, currently only those in the "at risk" category are being offered the vaccine, if locally avaliable. Therefore our Antiviral Protection Plan provides peace of mind for those who:

want guaranteed access to antiviral medication, as and when they need it

are worried about having a vaccination

are unable to gain access to a vaccine due to local shortages

have concerns about the protection offered by the current swine flu vaccine in light of the recent emergence of the new strain of H1N1.

For further information, click The Plan tab.

How swine 'flu has spread

Pandemic 'flu alert chart

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