SWINE FLU VACCINE INFORMATION

SYMPTOMS OF SWINE FLU:

The symptoms of swine flu in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu in humans and may include:

Infectious period: 1 day before onset to 7 days after onset of illness

Incubation period: up to 7 days

H1N1 (Swine) Flu Vaccine

There has been less time available to test the H1N1 flue vaccine and therefore we cannot be sure that there will not be more serious side effects for instance compared to the "seasonal flu" vaccine (which of course is extremely safe).

As with all vaccinations including the seasonal flu vaccine, serious side effects can and do occur though rarely.

To decide whether or not to get vaccinated is ultimately a matter of comparing the risk of the vaccine to the risk of getting a particular illness. Most experts agree that when one considers the potential effects of the swine flu and the potential known possible side effects of the vaccine that especially for high risk groups - including:

The risk of disease re flu is greater and they should have the vaccine.

For others, the risk/benefit of vaccination is less clearcut but expert opinion supports the idea of vaccinating almost the whole population.

The problem with swine flu is that although the vast majority of people who develop swine flue will have a relatively mild illness, a small minority will develop life threatening illness and we cannot predict who these will be.