Protect young from flu, parents urged

Alan Higgins: “young children seem particularly vulnerable”

Jabs recommended for tots aged six months to five years

OLDHAM’S top health chief is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against swine flu.

Alan Higgins, the borough’s director for public health, is making the call to mums and dads who have youngsters aged over six months and under five years old.

Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of the flu virus. The seasonal flu vaccines which are already available do not protect against swine flu so a new vaccine has been developed.

Mr Higgins said: “Even if children are healthy, it is important to get them vaccinated against swine flu.

“The vaccination will help to protect children against swine flu, and their family and other people who are in close contact as it is less likely they will pass on the virus.

“It will also protect children against future infection caused by the swine flu virus and reduce the spread of the virus.

“Young children are being offered the vaccine to protect them from swine flu and its possible complications.

“They seem to be particularly vulnerable to severe illness as a result of swine flu, and are more likely to need to go into hospital as a result than children aged five to 15.

“Healthy children in this age group are also far more likely to be hospitalised as a result of swine flu than healthy people in other age groups.

“They also have high rates of admission to critical care and some children under five have died as a result of swine flu.”

The majority of children are likely to be given the Pandremix vaccine. However, if they have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction to eggs, they will be given Celvapan.

Parents are advised to look for signs of fever following the vaccination. The side-effects most frequently reported are non-serious and in line with expectations.

For most people swine flu is mild. It comes on quickly and generally lasts for around a week. Patients with swine flu typically have a fever or high temperature (over 38°C/100.4°F) and two or more of the following symptoms — unusual tiredness, headache, runny nose, sore throat, shortness of breath or cough, loss of appetite, aching muscles and diarrhoea or vomiting.

Only a small proportion of swine flu cases are confirmed by a laboratory test, so most people cannot be certain they have had swine flu.

Young children should still have the vaccine unless they have a positive laboratory test for swine flu. It is safe to be vaccinated even if you have already had swine flu.

Some people are more likely to be seriously ill with swine flu. These can include young children over six months and under five years of age with no underlying health conditions, people who have long-term health conditions, pregnant women or people whose immune system is affected by a disease or treatment for the disease.

To find out more about swine flu, go to www.direct.gov.uk/swineflu

Schools declare war on bugs

MORE than 3,000 primary and secondary schools across the North-West have received an e-Bug pack to help pupils fight infections such as swine flu and norovirus.

The pack has been developed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and includes activities along with a website featuring cartoon characters and games.