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Mums-to-be slow to have swine flu jab
DOCTORS in Scarborough are encouraging pregnant women and children at risk of becoming ill from swine flu to come forward for their vaccine after a slow initial uptake.
Some practices are reporting that they have not seen as many people from “at risk” groups come forward as they were expecting.
At-risk children are defined as those who have an underlying health condition which makes them more likely to become seriously ill with swine flu.
The group of children most at risk from serious harm are those with complex special needs or “neuro-disability” – this includes children with a physical disability that makes speech or writing difficult.
Pregnant women are also significantly more likely to develop serious complications from swine flu.
The World Health Organisation states that up to 10 per cent of all hospitalised patients with swine flu are women who are more than three months pregnant.
Dr Phil Kirby, associate director of Public Health at NHS North Yorkshire and York, said: “Although swine flu can be mild for most people, for others it is more serious
“We are particularly concerned about pregnant women and children who azre already deemed to be at risk from flu-like illnesses. these groups are more likely to become seriously ill from this new strain of the virus and therefore most likely to end up in hospital.
“I would strongly encourage all those people who have been invited to have a swine flu vaccine by their GP to take this up.
“If you’ve not been contacted by your GP practice about getting the swine flu vaccine and you think you should have been, please get in touch with them.”
Anyone who is worried they might have swine flu should contact the National Pandemic Flu Service, which can prescribe antiviral medication if required.
The service can be contacted on 0800 1 513 100 (0800 1 513 200 textphone) or by going online to www.direct.gov. uk/pandemicflu.
More information about the swine flu vaccination programme is available at www.nhs.uk.
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Weather for Scarborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: North east
