UK patients shunning swine flu jab

More than half of UK patients are turning down the swine flu vaccine, a snapshot survey suggested yesterday.

A poll of 107 GPs found some people were concerned about possible side-effects of the jab while others believed there was no need to have it because the virus is mild.

Family doctors are currently vaccinating people at high risk from swine flu, including pregnant women, health workers and those with asthma, heart disease and diabetes.

The poll of GPs in England, for Pulse magazine, found resistance to the jab was particularly high among pregnant women and, overall, only 46 per cent of patients offered the vaccine are thought to have said yes.

One family doctor estimated that as few as one in 20 pregnant women were opting to have the vaccine.

Last week, the government published online information and leaflets aimed at persuading pregnant women to have the vaccine.

The number of new swine flu infections is currently hovering around 64,000 a week in England.

• Why are people rejecting the vaccine?

Public concern over the vaccine's safety has become heightened in recent months. There are several reasons people seem to be refusing the jab, including a belief that swine flu is a mild illness and recovery is relatively quick.

While this is true for the majority of people, those in at-risk groups have been found to experience more complications. Some pregnant women are also worried that the jab has not been tested on their group. However, no vaccine of any kind is routinely tested on pregnant women. The jab has been approved for use in pregnant women by European and UK regulators.

• What are the specific worries?

Two vaccines are currently in use: Pandemrix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, and Celvapan, manufactured by Baxter. A large amount of evidence exists which shows that vaccines similar to Celvapan are safe.

However, the Pandemrix vaccine has been the subject of more intense debate because it contains an adjuvant. This is a chemical which heightens the immune response and there is less available evidence on the safety of adjuvants. The adjuvant in Pandemrix is called squalene, which is extracted from fish oil.

Both the vaccine and adjuvant have been carefully evaluated by European regulators and the Department of Health. The World Health Organisation has also reviewed the safety of adjuvants and found no cause for concern. Clinical trial data is being collected and monitored all the time and doctors and patients are encouraged to report any side-effects.

• Should I have the jab if I am pregnant or at-risk?

Yes. Hospital admission figures show that people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease are suffering more complications compared to the general population. These might include pneumonia and heart and breathing problems. Unlike normal winter flu, people under the age of 45 have been most affected by the pandemic, including pregnant women.

According to WHO pregnant women may be four to five times more likely to develop severe disease, and 10 times more likely to need intensive care than the general population. Around one in 10 of all patients in hospital are thought to be pregnant women.

• How do I get the jab?

Both vaccines have been licensed for use in pregnant women. However, GPs are mostly using Pandemrix on at-risk groups and reserving Celvapan for people with an egg allergy. Doctors are contacting patients in high-risk groups, with the hope of vaccinating everybody at-risk by mid-December. If you have not heard from your surgery, it may be worth giving them a call.

• What are the side-effects?

The most commonly reported side-effects are pain and swelling at the site of the injection, headaches, joint pain and muscle pain.