SWINE flu vaccine has arrived in Todmorden and is now available for patients in at risk groups.
Todmorden Group Practice has announced the arrival of the first vaccines for swine flu. As the vaccines are in limited supply the practice will follow the Department of Health guidance and prioritise at risk groups in order.
For those aged from si
x months to 65 years people in risk groups will be given priority in the following order:
Chronic respiratory disease, eg chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), brociectasis, cystic fibrosis, and asthma that requires continuous inhaled steroids.
Chronic heart disease, eg congenital heart disease, angina, myocardial infarction (MI), chronic heart failure; Chronic renal disease, eg chronic renal failure, nephritic syndrome, renal transplantation.
Chronic liver disease, eg cirrhosis billary atresia hepatitis; Chronic neurological disease, eg stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
Diabetes; Immunosupression eg, those undergoing chemotherapy, or those with asplenia, HIV, those on systemic steroids. Also household contacts of the immunocompromised. Pregnant women especially those over 20 weeks in gestation.
Finally those over 65-years-old in the above risk groups need to be vaccinated as they are thought to be at less risk from the pandemic virus.
The nursing team will be vaccinating patients every Thursday between 9am to 6pm from November 19. Only pre-bookable appointments are available. Patients are asked to phone or visit the surgery to book an appointment.
