| Even In "Hot Spot" Infected
Areas, GPs
On The Frontline Are Refusing H1N1 Vaccine
Many GPs and practice staff are refusing to be vaccinated against
swine flu, even in ‘hot-spot’ areas where rates of infection
are rising fastest.
At some practices no front line staff have agreed to have the
vaccine, despite BMA and Government warnings that it is ‘crucial’
to the success of the campaign.
And some GPs warned there were early signs that take-up among
patients might also be disappointing, amid continued fears over
vaccine safety.
A Pulse survey in August found nearly half of GPs had at that
time been planning to turn the vaccine down, with doubts over
safety one of the key reasons.
Dr Niall Finegan, a GP in Salford, Manchester – close to
a hot spot in Trafford - said he, the four other GPs and six staff
members at his practice planned to refuse the vaccine, and that
he did not believe there was enough evidence it was safe.
’It’s not been around very long. The fact we are testing
it out on pregnant women does not bear thinking about,’ he
said.
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Dr Louise Warburton, a GP in Telford – identified as one
of the country’s hotspots, with nearly three times the national
average consultations for influenza-like illness – said she
was planning to say no to the vaccine, as were many other local
GPs.
Practice staff were also reluctant in many areas. Dr Helen Groom,
a GP in Sunderland – also a hot-spot – said she would
have the vaccine, but around a third of her 23 staff planned to
refuse it.
And some GPs warned their own doubts were shared by patients.
Dr Andra Jayaweera, a GP in Rayleigh, Essex, said she would not
have the vaccine, and nor would her practice staff and many of
her patients: ‘I usually get 100% uptake for seasonal flu,
but for swine flu the response is very low.’
Dr Liz Miller, a locum GP in London, said she would not recommend
the vaccine to her patients because of safety concerns: ‘I
do not intend to be vaccinated, nor will I recommend it to patients.
It is untested and unnecessary. It’s time doctors started
thinking for themselves instead of mindlessly obeying the Department
of Health because they are terrified of missing out on free money.’
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A full list of h1n1 vaccine ingredients, alerts and warnings.
Reference Source: pulsetoday.co.uk
November 17, 2009
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