Accrington National News: Swine flu vaccine continues to provide vital protection says Chief Medical Officer

Swine flu vaccine continues to provide vital protection says Chief Medical Officer

Swine flu cases remain near their lowest level since the early stages of the disease in the United Kingdom, according to a statistical bulletin from the Chief Medical Officer for England, published today.

The bulletin also shows that the swine flu vaccination programme has gathered pace since Christmas, as more people in groups at risk from swine flu including the under fives, are being vaccinated.

The Chief Medical Officer has stressed the importance of being vaccinated to prevent complications, hospital admissions and death in potential future outbreaks of the disease, as swine flu is likely to be the predominant influenza virus during the 2010 flu season.

Patients continue to be hospitalised and admitted to critical care facilities, although these numbers are in decline. A substantial number of deaths from the last few months are still being investigated.

Key statistics in the bulletin are:

Swine flu cases
-In England, the rate of general practitioner consultations for influenza like illness was 12.5 per 100,000 population for the week ending 31 January 2010.
-There are still 124 patients in hospital with swine flu in England, 29 of whom are in critical care.
-The Health Protection Agency overall estimate of the number of cases in the last week remains below 5,000, where it has been for the last six weeks.

National Pandemic Flu Service
-The number of people receiving antiviral drugs through the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS) in the week ending 2 February 2010 was 4,730.
-This represents a fall from the figure of 6,337 for the week ending 18 January 2010 and is the lowest weekly number since the NPFS was activated.
-With levels of swine flu currently low the NPFS will close at 1am on Thursday 11 February. Should the situation change, the service can be restored to full operation in seven days.

Vaccination programme
-The total estimated number of front line health and social care workers vaccinated to-date in England is 393,000.
-The total number of vaccine doses administered to the priority groups in England to-date is 4.25 million. This figure includes:
--140,000 pregnant women; and
--404,000 healthy children aged 6 months to under 5 years in England.

Commenting on the latest figures, Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer for England said:

“I am pleased to see increasing uptake of vaccine amongst the under fives. Deaths in this age group have been deeply distressing.

“When the virus returns I would very much like to see young children already protected.

“From now on, most deaths from the pandemic flu virus should be regarded as potentially preventable; general practitioners have the vaccine and stand ready to offer this vital protection. Parents should contact their general practitioner now to make an appointment.

“Young children who have the jab now will be protected should H1N1 (2009) influenza return in the next flu season. Pregnant women and those in all other at-risk groups should continue to have the vaccine as well.”

Posted Thursday February 4^th 2010
By Department of Health