ONLY a third of pregnant women have been vaccinated against swine flu.
Health authorities are worried about the low uptake – just 150 women.
The vaccine programme was introduced locally at the beginning of November.
Although considered to be low, the figures are in line with trends seen in the UK.
Lisa Stephens, the States Influenza Pandemic Expert Group midwifery representative, said midwives were continuing to recommend the vaccine.
‘Some pregnant women may be reluctant because usually women are discouraged to take any non-essential medication during pregnancy,’ she said.
‘But these are extraordinary circumstances.
‘Women who are pregnant are not known to be at increased risk of catching swine flu, but due to the changes in their immune systems to accommodate their developing foetus, and adaptations in their body as a result of hormonal and physical changes, they are at greater risk of developing complications should they acquire the illness.’
She said complications of swine flu – including miscarriage and premature labour – were highest during the later stages of pregnancy.
‘The vaccine used has been licensed for use in pregnant women. ‘Licensed vaccines are held to a very high standard of safety and would not be licensed if they were considered unsafe.’
Last week, 200 people with a flu-like condition visited local doctors, compared to 370 two weeks earlier.
Director of public health Dr Stephen Bridgman said local figures indicated a similar ‘wave’ to that seen in the UK a few weeks previously.
The incidence of flu-like illness in the community has fallen in the past week.
But there could still be a third wave of sickness towards the end of the winter.
Article posted on 10th December, 2009 - 2.29pm
One Article Comment
I’m a nurse in England and have had the swine flu jab myself to make sure I protect my patients while I am in contact with them. I would just like to encourage pregnant women to get the swine flu jab too. People are worried about having it because they fear it hasn’t been tested properly. But actually, its practically the same vaccine as the one developed for H5N1 and has been tested on 5,000 people over the last few years. The Department of Health has said that changing the part of the vaccine that they have done, to help protect against swine flu, does not affect the safety of the jab. Over the last few months, pregnant women have been shown to be one of the most at risk groups of developing complications from contracting swine flu and in some cases this has led to devastating effects. Please, reconsider if you haven’t already had it. Make sure you read up fully about the safety of the vaccine and put your mind at rest. Having the vaccine is important to protect you and your baby.
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