Flu Vaccination 2011

This year our usual Flu vaccination "campaign" coincides with our move back to Leatside.
For various reasons we are now going to have to try to do the bulk of the vaccinations from where we are now at the Creameries site by the Station.
I had hoped we could do it the week after we moved back but technicalities to do with guaranteeing the cold-storage chain mean we can't really.
SO - we will be getting the vaccines delivered on 6th Oct we hope, then will have a day set aside on Friday 14th Oct to do most of the jabs.
We don't want everyone to pile in at once so I will put an ad in the Totnes Times at the end of this month to explain how we hope to space people out.


As usual it would be daft to have the jabs in the fridge and not be giving them out, so the week of the 10th to the 14th Oct, if you are in seeing the nurse or a doctor and qualify for a jab, then you will probably get one there and then. I'll be keeping a few available during each surgery that week, and I'm sure everyone else there will be doing the same.


This year as usual we would expect to be giving the jab to anyone over the age of 65 and anyone with a long-lasting condition that would mean if they got flu they would be more at risk of serious illness or death. This usually means heart and lung conditions, kidney or liver disease, diabetes or stroke/TIA, people with MS or cerebral palsy and those with Parkinsons. Others where they may have a lowered immunity such as those on long-term steroids, have no spleen or are having immunosuppresive therapy.


This year the Dept of Health has put a greater emphasis on jabbing healthcare workers. Only a third of hospital nurses had a flu jab last year. GPs weren't much better with only 38% having a jab. I had mine as always.
The other emphasis is on pregnant mums. This is because during previous flu outbreaks it has become clear that pregnant women were much more prone to complications from flu than others. This was particularly evident during the swine flu outbreak, and there is still a concern that this strain might come back.


I see people with Influenza every year and I still don't think most people appreciate just how bad it can be, particularly in the younger population. I have  my jab every year because I really don't want to catch it.