Swine flu vaccines up and running

The first batches of the swine flu vaccine were being given out at GP surgeries in the West Midlands today.

Pregnant women and those deemed to be at risk of seasonal flu will be among the first to be offered the jab.

It will also be available for front line health staff, who may be at risk themselves.

The immunisation programme has yet to begin in surgeries in the Black Country and Staffordshire, with primary care trusts writing to eligible patients to tell them how they can receive their injection.

Most will be carried out at surgeries or special vaccination centres.

South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust received its first delivery of vaccine last week and more are expected this week with supplies continuing to arrive in phased batches.

Trust spokeswoman Sue Venables said the first vaccinations in the area will take place on November 3.

Officials in Wolverhampton and Dudley say GP surgeries in the areas will start receiving batches of the vaccine from this week, while Walsall was expecting its first jabs on Friday.

Dr Rashmi Shukla, regional director of public health for NHS West Midlands, said: "It is very important that front line health and social care workers in the West Midlands have this vaccine in order to protect themselves, their families and their patients."

Access

Michele Lawrence, public health practitioner for immunisation at Sandwell Primary Care Trust said: "Satellite clinics across Sandwell are being organised for staff swine flu vaccinations, as well as a designated centre, to increase access.

"No routine appointments or clinics are being cancelled and there is no impact on nurses' usual duties. The allocated supply to the PCT front line staff is 500 doses."

Vaccination will be offered in order of priority, with those aged six months and up to 65 deemed to be at risk of seasonal flu being approached first along with pregnant women, followed by people in regular contact with those suffering from diseases such as cancer, and then people aged 65 and above in the current seasonal flu at-risk groups.

Bosses say this does not include otherwise healthy over-65s. The number of people with swine flu admitted to hospital last week in the West Midlands was 113 compared with 85 in the previous week.

By Helen Cartwright