Sussex facing flu epidemic as patients refuse vaccines (From The Argus)
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Sussex facing flu epidemic as patients refuse vaccines
1:50pm Monday 20th December 2010 in News
A flu epidemic could sweep across Sussex this winter if not enough people get themselves vaccinated, medics have warned.
Scores of people have already been struck down by the virus with GP surgeries around the county reporting a sharp rise in patients coming in.
Cases include two strains of winter flu and swine flu.
The rise has been partly blamed on a lower than expected uptake of the annual flu vaccine so far this year.
It is believed people are refusing to take it up because this year's jab includes a vaccine for swine flu.
Concerns were raised about its safety when it was introduced last year.
NHS bosses hope news that flu cases are rising will encourage more people to come forward and get protected.
No protection means the most vulnerable people, including the over 65s and people with chronic conditions like heart disease or asthma, are potentially putting their lives at risk.
Children and pregnant women are also particularly vulnerable.
Two people are currently being treated for swine flu at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Worthing Hospital and St Richard's Hospital in Chichester, is also dealing with a case.
Nigel Higson from the Goodwood Court Medical Centre in Road, Hove, said flu jabs were rationed to only the most vulnerable patients.
He said: “We are seeing, and have been seeing for some six weeks, an increased number of flu cases - more than I saw last winter.”
Xavier Nalletamby, from St Peter's Medical Centre, Oxford Street, Brighton, said: “We have seen a doubling of consultations this week with flu like symptoms, particularly sore throat and fever.”
NHS West Sussex immunisation lead Nick Kendall, said: “Flu is not the same as getting a cold.
“It can seriously affect your health and the risks of developing complications are far greater if you have certain pre-existing medical conditions.
"We don't know how serious flu will be this winter. But we do know that by encouraging everyone who is offered the vaccine to have it, we can make sure that those most vulnerable are protected.”
Comments(8)
sparky_2004
says...
2:04pm Mon 20 Dec 10
Pitviper wrote:Seems it's clouded your judgement though, so not so sure it's had no effect...if you want to be a guinea pig regarding the swine flu vaccine, then that's up to you, but don't chide those who don't...were you around to champion the merits of thalidomide?
Wise up people, there's nothing wrong with the jab, I've had mine and had no ill effects. What would you rather do risk death or have a tiny jab???
Hove Actually
says...
2:06pm Mon 20 Dec 10
Being middle aged and working I cannot get the vaccine even if I want to, mind you I can still get the flu to pass onto others... Merry Christmas
Pitviper
says...
2:14pm Mon 20 Dec 10
sparky_2004 wrote:this is the 2nd year I have had the swine flu jab and no it has not clouded my judgement, and before you spout off about thalidomide again think first, I am one of the generation whose mother took it !!!!
Pitviper wrote: Wise up people, there's nothing wrong with the jab, I've had mine and had no ill effects. What would you rather do risk death or have a tiny jab???Seems it's clouded your judgement though, so not so sure it's had no effect...if you want to be a guinea pig regarding the swine flu vaccine, then that's up to you, but don't chide those who don't...were you around to champion the merits of thalidomide?
Asbo
says...
4:14pm Mon 20 Dec 10
sparky_2004
says...
6:22pm Mon 20 Dec 10
Pitviper wrote:So you are lucky then.. and yet it's another reason why you shouldn't lecture people, unless you choose to ignore the lessons of history...why do some sheeple never learn!..
sparky_2004 wrote:this is the 2nd year I have had the swine flu jab and no it has not clouded my judgement, and before you spout off about thalidomide again think first, I am one of the generation whose mother took it !!!!
Pitviper wrote: Wise up people, there's nothing wrong with the jab, I've had mine and had no ill effects. What would you rather do risk death or have a tiny jab???Seems it's clouded your judgement though, so not so sure it's had no effect...if you want to be a guinea pig regarding the swine flu vaccine, then that's up to you, but don't chide those who don't...were you around to champion the merits of thalidomide?
David523
says...
7:19am Tue 21 Dec 10
jondemassey
says...
5:13pm Mon 3 Jan 11
At 57, I now have flu for the third consecutive year.
I suspect all this nonsense about people refusing injections is fundamentally dishonest medical staff lying to cover up their failure to sacrifice their extended Christmas break to put in the fully-paid work ethic required to make the vaccine available.
Pitviper says...
1:56pm Mon 20 Dec 10