Swine Flu Q and A: General Information

If I have swine flu will I be prescribed antiviral drugs? Where will I get antivirals from? What are the side-effects of the drugs?

Many people who have swine flu will recover without the need for antiviral drugs. If you are issued with an antiviral voucher, ask a healthy friend or relative to pick up your antiviral medication from the collection point. Antivirals can reduce the length of time you are ill and the severity of some of your symptoms. However, antivirals can cause side effects including nausea, sickness and retching.

How can I help to control the spread of the virus?

Swine flu is transmitted in the same way as seasonal influenza via large droplet spread and through direct or indirect contact with commonly touched contaminated surfaces. To help control the infection make sure you and your family practise good respiratory and hand hygiene. Wash your hands regularly with soap and water to reduce the spread of the virus. If you do not have access to soap and water, hand gels are a good substitute. Remember to Catch it, Bin it, Kill it. Catch your sneeze in a tissue, place it quickly in a bin and wash your hands straight away to kill the virus. Also make sure that you clean commonly touched hard surfaces such as door handles regularly to kill the virus.

What can I do to prepare myself?

Establish a network of "flu friends" - friends and relatives - who can help if you fall ill. They could, for example, collect medicines and food for you.
Make sure that you have an adequate amount of paracetamol-based cold or flu remedies in the house in case you become ill.
If possible, have a thermometer available so you can check your temperature if you need to.

Preventing the spread of germs is the single most effective way to slow the spread of diseases such as swine flu. You should always:

Ensure everyone washes their hands regularly with soap and water.
Clean surfaces regularly to get rid of germs.
Use tissues to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
Place used tissues in a bin as soon as possible.

Will swine flu become resistant to antivirals?

Flu viruses change and mutate all of the time, but the strain of swine flu which is causing the pandemic is responding well to the use of antivirals, which are reducing symptoms in those who take them. Antivirals have also proven to be a useful treatment for high risk groups who have caught seasonal flu in previous winters. The NHS and scientists are monitoring the pandemic situation closely to see if the virus is changing to ensure we can respond appropriately.

Is there a vaccine? Is it safe?

Preparations are well underway for the implementation of a comprehensive swine flu vaccination programme for priority groups as soon as the licensing process has been fully completed.

Creating a new vaccine is a complex scientific procedure but based on the manufacturer's current forecast, we expect to have around 60 million doses (enough for half the population) by the end of the year.

The European Medicines Agency has strict processes in place for licensing pandemic vaccines. Over 40,000 doses of the vaccines which the swine flu vaccines are based on have been given without any safety concerns.

In addition, we will be encouraging people in high risk groups to take up the seasonal flu vaccine again this year as we have done in previous winters.

Neither the winter flu or swine flu vaccines carry any ‘live’ virus, which means the vaccine cannot give you the flu. Some people may experience mild fever up to 48 hours after having the jab as their immune system responds to the vaccine, but this is not flu.

It is safe to have both vaccines at the same time (but by two separate injections) and people in ‘at risk’ groups are advised to do so in order to make sure they are fully protected.

Having a vaccination is totally different to antiviral treatment (such as Tamiflu). The vaccine will prevent you from getting flu by boosting your antibodies so you can fight off the virus, whereas antivirals are used to treat you after you have already been infected.

Having the winter flu vaccine does not protect you against swine flu.

Who are the priority groups who will get the vaccine?

Priority groups for both the winter and swine flu vaccines are people of all ages (over six months for children) who have:
- - serious breathing problems, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  - chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
  - chronic kidney disease, such as kidney failure
  - chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
  - chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson's
  - people with diabetes and
  - a suppressed immune system due to disease or treatment, such as cancer patients or those with conditions such as cystic fibrosis.
- Frontline health and social care workers (providing close personal care).
- People who live with others whose immune systems are compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS.
Please note: it is assumed that all people living in a care home will fall in to a clinical risk group and all care home residents in the north east will be offered both vaccines.