Advice is to follow doctor’s orders
Editorial Department • Published 28 Jan 2011 09:00
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You can almost hear the exhalation of breath in relief as people take in the fact that the number of confirmed swine flu cases have reduced.
A few weeks ago, swine flu was hitting the headlines and furrowing the brows of mothers of young children who last year qualified for vaccination by virtue of the fact they were under five yet this winter did not.
It was a worrying time, given a number of heartbreaking and high-profile cases of young children falling victim to this particular type of flu.
There were many hot debates about the vaccination policy and the availability of vaccine.
What a difference a week makes. While swine flu is still making some people very ill, the intense spotlight of media attention has moved on.
That doesn’t mean that parents are less concerned but certainly will be getting some relief from the fact that numbers are reduced. The fact that they know these numbers are reducing is as a result of a more transparent imparting of information from the Public Health Agency after intense media pressure.
But this does not mean that swine flu is done and dusted for another winter. There have been further deaths in Northern Ireland.
Pregnant women need to be vigilant and the wider community needs to follow the medical advice of “catch it, bin it, kill it”.
There is also next winter to think about too. So when the invitation comes through the door for a vaccination and you fall into an “at risk” group, it may be worth taking your GP up on his or her invitation. While it will look after your own health, it will also mean you won’t be spreading the swine flu when and if the problem emerges next time around.
As Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael McBride advised: “Our experience this year highlights the importance of the flu vaccination programme and the need for those in at risk groups to take up the offer of vaccination at the earliest opportunity”.
This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 27 Jan 11
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