Flu Vaccination Campaign 2012 - Beech Tree Surgery - Home page

							               2012 FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
If you fall into any of the ‘at risk’ groups below we recommend you have
the flu vaccine
 Aged 65 years or over
 Pregnant (in any stage of pregnancy)
 The MAIN carer for an older or disabled person
 Suffer from a heart problem
 Suffer from a chest complaint or breathing difficulties including, asthma,
   bronchitis, emphysema
 Suffer from a kidney disease
 Have lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication
   or cancer treatment)
 Suffer from liver disease
 Have had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
 Suffer from diabetes
 Have a neurological condition e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
 Suffer from a problem with your spleen e.g. sickle cell disease

We regret that we are unable to vaccinate patients who do not fall into one
                          of the above groups

                       *******************************
For the first time, this year we are running ‘drop in’ clinics for the flu vaccination
campaign. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RING FOR AN APPOINTMENT, just turn up
at our main surgery in Selby on the relevant day. The day you need to attend is
based on the first letter of your surname, see below

             IF YOUR SURNAME BEGINS WITH THE LETTER A – F
         Please attend on Sat 29 September between 8.30 & 11.30 am

             IF YOUR SURNAME BEGINS WITH THE LETTER G - L
         Please attend on Sat 29 September between 1.00 & 4.00 pm


             IF YOUR SURNAME BEGINS WITH THE LETTER M - R
          Please attend on Sat 13 October between 8.30 & 11.30 am

             IF YOUR SURNAME BEGINS WITH THE LETTER S - Z
           Please attend on Sat 13 October between 1.00 – 4.00 pm



      If you are HOUSEBOUND please ring 01904 – 724409 between
                    10.00 & 12.00 noon Monday – Friday.
    Your name will be added to the list for District Nurses and will be dealt with
                      between October and December 2012.


          If you do not wish to have the flu vaccination please ring
                      01904 – 724409 and let us know
                Influvac - Patient Information Sheet
     ** This year’s flu vaccination also contains the swine flu strain **

WHAT INFLUVAC IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
 Influvac is a vaccine that helps to protect you against influenza (flu), particularly in
  people who run a high risk of associated complications.
 When a person is given the vaccine Influvac, the immune system (the body’s
  natural defence system) will produce its own protection (antibodies) against the
  disease.
 None of the ingredients in the vaccine can cause flu.
 Influvac will protect you or your child against the three strains of virus contained in
  the vaccine from about 2 to 3 weeks after the injection.
 The incubation period for flu is a few days, so if you are exposed to flu immediately
  before or after your vaccination, you could still develop the illness.
 The vaccine will not protect you against the common cold, even though some of the
  symptoms are similar to flu.

BEFORE YOU USE INFLUVAC
Do not use Influvac
 If you or your child is allergic (hypersensitive) to eggs, to chicken proteins (such as
  ovalbumin), to gentamicin (an antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections), to
  formaldehyde, to cetyltrimethylammonium or to polysorbate 80 .
 If you have an illness with a high temperature or acute infection, the vaccination
  should be postponed until after you or your child has recovered.

Using other medicines
 Influvac can be given at the same time as other vaccines by using separate limbs. It
  should be noted that the side effects may be stronger.
 The immunological response may decrease in case of immunosuppressant
  treatment, such as corticosteroids, cytotoxic drugs or radiotherapy, making Influvac
  less effective.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding
 Limited data from flu vaccinations in pregnant women do not indicate that the
   vaccine would have harmful effects on the pregnancy or the baby. The use of this
   vaccine may be considered from the second trimester of pregnancy.
 For pregnant women with medical conditions that increase their risk of
   complications from the flu, administration of the vaccine is recommended,
   irrespective of their stage of pregnancy.
 Influvac may be used during breast-feeding.


Driving and using machines
The vaccine is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Influvac can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
During clinical trials, the following side effects have been observed. Their frequencies
have been estimated as Common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100.
Headache, sweating, muscular pain (myalgia), joint pain (arthralgia) fever, generally
feeling unwell (malaise), shivering, fatigue, local reactions - redness, swelling, pain,
bruising, hardness around the area where the vaccine is injected.