Flu vaccine campaign 2010/11 gets underway

The annual seasonal influenza vaccination campaign for winter 2010/11 is now underway and the Public Health Agency (PHA) is urging all those in ‘at risk’ groups to get their vaccine when invited to do so. All pregnant women are being offered the flu vaccine this year, regardless of their stage of pregnancy.

Dr Lorraine Doherty, Assistant Director of Public Health (Health Protection), PHA explains the importance for ‘at risk’ groups to get the vaccine: “Everyone who receives an invitation to be vaccinated against flu should see it as a positive step in protecting their health and the health of others around them.

"The seasonal flu vaccination programme specifically targets ‘at risk’ groups because they are more likely to have severe illness and/or develop complications if they get flu, such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.

“Pregnant women are more likely to have serious illness if they catch flu, especially swine flu, and so are included in the programme this year. Some of the other main priorities for the campaign this year include those with chronic neurological diseases such as cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis, especially children and young people, as they may be less likely to have received the flu vaccine in the past. Health and Social Care staff are also urged to get vaccinated, to protect themselves, their families and those they care for.”

GPs, their staff and some hospital departments will now be inviting patients and relevant staff to avail of the seasonal flu vaccine in order to protect the individual/themselves, care givers and healthcare professionals from the flu.

This winter (2010/11) the influenza vaccine will protect against the three strains which are predicted to be most prevalent from this autumn. The H1N1 (swine flu) virus is likely to be one of the dominant flu viruses again this winter and so has been included as part of this year’s flu vaccine.

As it takes approximately 10 days to develop protection against flu following vaccination, clinics will be held from early October onwards so that most people will have had the opportunity to receive the flu vaccine before the peak of the flu season in December.

As the influenza viruses undergo change, the World Health Organisation (WHO) monitors the circulating strains of influenza virus around the world every year and advises on what influenza viruses the vaccine needs to protect against for the forthcoming flu season.