At-risk patients snub 'unsafe' swine flu jabs
PATIENTS are refusing the swine flu jab because they fear it is neither safe nor necessary, it was claimed yesterday.
A snapshot survey of doctors reveals that high-risk patients – those with conditions such as
heart disease, diabetes or who are pregnant – are ignoring letters calling them in for the inoculation.
Fewer than one in 20 pregnant women have attended clinics offering the jab in some areas.
Some GPs say this is because people are not convinced the jab is safe or they do not think swine flu is serious.
This has triggered calls for health officials to examine the safety data on the two brands of swine flu vaccine used.
A poll by health magazine Pulse found that of 107 GPs surveyed, only a third said that patients were keen to have the inoculation.
The others believed less than 50 per cent of those offered the jab would be inoculated. Richard Hoey, editor of Pulse, said: “Many patients, like a substantial number of doctors, are unconvinced there is sufficient evidence that swine
flu vaccination is safe and necessary.
“The Government needs to be much clearer about the safety data it has gathered. It also needs to publish a full justification for the priority risks groups it has picked out for vaccination, to convince the public that the people being
prioritised really are those who will benefit most.”
Data shows that people with underlying health conditions, pregnant women and children under one suffer more compli- cations when they catch swine flu and are more likely to be hospitalised.
Dr Gary Calver, a GP in Folkestone, Kent, told the magazine: “A number of patients were very negative
about swine flu vaccination.
It’s going to be extremely difficult to meet targets.” Many people believe swine flu is a mild illness and a jab is
not necessary. Others are concerned the jab could be dangerous because it has been created quickly and has not
been tested on certain groups, such as pregnant women.
Last night, the Department of Health dismissed the survey and said too few GPs were asked for any conclusions to be drawn.
They also said it was not true GPs had been told to try to vaccinate more than half of patients in the at-risk category.
A spokesman said last night:
“We have not set a target for vaccination – there is none.
“We recommend that people in the at-risk groups accept the offer of vaccination.
“This is because they are more likely to be severely ill if they catch swine flu and the vaccine provides the best
protection against the disease.
“It is too early to speculate on uptake rates. GPs are working as quickly as they can to reach as many patients as possible.”