Swine Flu Vaccine?

[oceanscape]

Does anyone know why ALL residents of other countries (USA/Canada to name just two) are getting the vaccine, yet here in the UK only those who fall into the "at risk" categories are being offered it? A budget issue?

 

[irisheyes123]

Its the same here in Ireland only the at risk get it I got my vaccine yesterday and I asked why this is was told they don't have enough vaccines and hope to have enough by the new year to do everyone its crazy....

 

[oceanscape]

Its the same here in Ireland only the at risk get it I got my vaccine yesterday and I asked why this is was told they don't have enough vaccines and hope to have enough by the new year to do everyone its crazy....

IMO, it's an absolute disgrace we are so far behind other countries

 

[mikki.young]

In some countries you have to pay for the vaccine. Here it it can be free. My dh was given it yesterday at same time as yearly flu vaccine.

Why give it to everyone if everyone does not need it? I hate putting more medicines in my body than I have to.

 

[T16GEM]

our surgery has 11000 patients and is being allocated 500 shots, this is approx 4% of the patients.

 

[oceanscape]

In some countries you have to pay for the vaccine. Here it it can be free. My dh was given it yesterday at same time as yearly flu vaccine.

Why give it to everyone if everyone does not need it? I hate putting more medicines in my body than I have to.

Everyone should be given a choice. I'm not exactly a fan of putting more medicines into my body than I have to, but if it's a toss up between that and getting swine flu, obviously I'd prefer the vaccination. Same for my children. We are charged for flu vaccines (what is it, £15?) - and for prescriptions. No reason why we can't be charged for the swine flu vaccine, we should be given a choice. Your argument regarding other countries having to pay is slightly flawed, since they don't have a state healthcare system: we pay significantly higher taxation for the benefit of the NHS.

 

[rpbert1]

My Dw and DS got theirs tonight, and anyone else who lives in the house can get it as well if they want.
As for US and canada, like PP said they will be happy to give it to anyone if you want to pay for it.I am sure those that do not have enough money to pay for it in these countries will not get it

 

[MerissaAndMomLoveDis]

I thought it might make you feel better to know that not everyone has the opportunity to get the swine flu vaccine here in the US either. In Dallas County Texas, the county health department only received a little more than 10,000 doses. Those were rationed to children with underlying medical conditions who did not have health insurance first, then pregnant women without health insurance, then there were some other categories. At the county health department the shots are free if you qualify. I believe about 200,000 doses went directly to private doctors offices in Dallas County. You pay for those--I think it cost me $10 to get a regular flu shot last year. That is not a lot of availablility when you consider that there are 2.4 million people in Dallas County, Texas--the ninth most populous county in the United States.

 

[catherine]

I'm a nurse and we're being offered the vaccine and non of the health professionals that I work with are getting it!

 

[natalielongstaff]

im not sure i would want it TBH the whole thing seems a bit panicked to me !

 

[Laurafoster]

im not sure i would want it TBH the whole thing seems a bit panicked to me !

I agree. My mum works at a doctors surgery and all of the staff there have opted not to have it - speaks volumes.

 

[scottish mum]

I'm a nurse and we're being offered the vaccine and non of the health professionals that I work with are getting it!

Thats what I'm worried about, my 8yr old son can get it BUT I'm not sure if I will let him have it. There seems to be many conflicting reasons for and against it I'm just so confused. He does get the regular flu jag every tear but this one just seems to have been rushed through

 

[thelittlemermaid83]

I personally don't see the point in the vaccine because if the virus mutates then a stronger vaccine has to be made so the last vaccine would be pointless.

If offered the vaccine i don't want it, not sure if i will let Kyra have it yet either.

 

[tennisfan]

I personally don't see the point in the vaccine because if the virus mutates then a stronger vaccine has to be made so the last vaccine would be pointless.

If offered the vaccine i don't want it, not sure if i will let Kyra have it yet either.

Totally agree

OP: I think the plan is to vaccinate front line staff (Health care etc), at risk groups & then other members of the public were going to be issued it

Having said that, I work for the ambulance service & can get that & the seasonal flu jab if I want. I don't. I also know many aren't going to have it either. Not because we are frightened about the lack of testing (just like seasonal flu jabs as the strain changes every year) but because I don't see the point, i'm exposed to a lot in my line of work. Many who have been told they have swine flu don't know for sure as they have stopped testing people for it, so what is the point of prescribing Tamiflu again it runs the risk of creating a drug resistant form.

I don't think the vaccine is any more unsafe then the seasonal flu vaccine.

The whole thing has been hyped up by the media, yes people have died from it majority had underlying issues but thousands die from seasonal flu. Its nothing new. I respect everyone's decisions as everyone is different. What I have stated is my opinion.

I'll get off my soap box now

 

[Laurafoster]

Now if they were able to invent a jab for man flu - i'd be all for sending DH for that

 

[Head_in_the_clouds]

I will entitled to it as I have a heart condition but I'm not having it and neither are any of my family and they are all health professionals, they are concerned that it has been formulated in a hurry.

I was due to get my seasonal flu jab last week and I was refused it when I turned up because my glands were swollen and the nurse said the vaccine could make me extremely poorly and I wouldn't be able to fight off even the small dose that they give in the vaccine. I found that pretty scary tbh!

 

[CHEK]

I also work for the NHS, and have been offered the jab, but haven't taken the offer up yet.....& not sure if I will???

 

[binkytell]

another nhs worker here not taking it up

 

[natalielongstaff]

I also work for the NHS, and have been offered the jab, but haven't taken the offer up yet.....& not sure if I will???

another nhs worker here not taking it up

That speaks volumes !

 

[PoppyAnna]

In some countries you have to pay for the vaccine. Here it it can be free. My dh was given it yesterday at same time as yearly flu vaccine.

Why give it to everyone if everyone does not need it? I hate putting more medicines in my body than I have to.

im not sure i would want it TBH the whole thing seems a bit panicked to me !

DH is able to have it and he has to call the surgery on Monday to make an apointment for the first dose (of two). For him we are all for it. TBH I would prefer to take the risk of my girls getting swine flu rather than give them the jab. It's my opinion that the illness just isn't serious enough if "otherwise healthy" people get it, unlike measles, mumps and rubella. If feel very sorry for those that have lost loved ones to swine flu but most of them have had other health issues, most people that contract it go on to make a full recovery.