Are you at risk from Swine Flu?

By now you are probably aware that the incidence of this virus is rapidly increasing. Large numbers of patients across the population have been affected in the last few weeks and the numbers continue to rise.

Swine Flu is not nice to get but, if you are healthy with no underlying medical conditions, you can expect complete recovery after a week or so of symptoms.

However, there are special groups that we are worried about in whom complications have been more frequent and severe. These include pregnant women from the second trimester onwards, persons with chronic respiratory disease including asthma and COPD, chronic heart disease, renal disease, liver disease, neurological disease, immunosuppression due to disease (eg. AIDS) or treatment (eg. chemotherapy), haemoglobinopathies, diabetes mellitus (types I and II) and persons who are extremely overweight.

If you are in one of these groups I would urge you to consider vaccination which will be available to you first free of charge in the coming weeks. Mass vaccination will then continue and will be available to everyone free of charge in the coming months.

Please contact the surgery to book your appointment for vaccination.