Has anyone heard of swine flu cases lately?

[Sanne Panne]

Has anyone heard of new swine flu cases this month? Have they been severe? I'm not worried at all, just curious since the media seem to have stopped reporting about it...

[snowboarder]

Am interested too as got sent a letter asking to take the bubs for his injection. My husband said he'd read that there had been more cases of regular flu than swine flu so far this winter....

[Mellors]

Yes - a friend had her 3 year old child hospitalized with it just last Friday (Peckham).

Have had my own little one nearly go the same way with it last year I have had the bigger one injected. I;ve never had such a poorly baby :(

[lorraineliyanage]

Do GPs still diagnose normal flu, or has it been replaced with swine flu now? It seems like a lot of diagnoses are done over the phone so it's hard to say how accurate the amount of reported cases of swine flu is.

[Sanne Panne]

Still debating whether to get the jab for my 18 month old and for myself (18 weeks pregnant). I'm not too worried about myself to be honest, flu season will be over when I enter the riskier third trimester, but I'd hate to see my daughter sick. She's normally very healthy but when she does have something like a nasty cough she sleeps so poorly and I feel so bad for her...

[lorraineliyanage]

Can you get thiomersal-free vaccinations yet?

[Sanne Panne]

lorraineliyanage Wrote:

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> Can you get thiomersal-free vaccinations yet?

Yes you can request Celvapan which is thiomersal and adjuvant-free, if your GP practice doesn't have it in stock they can refer you to a nearby practice.

[ladywotlunches]

sanne panne - remember that Swine Flu started in the summer - which is when I heard of cases. Not heard much recently and haven't had the 'call' for the youngsters jabs. Don't really know what to do re: having it or not having it. And the pregnancy side is a whole different kettle of fish. The mixed messages mums get from various sections of authority is mind-boggling. Don't eat nuts, swordfish, drink caffeine avoid any alcohol like the plague, but feel free to get a jab of something that contains mercury, eggs (are those cooked? ;-)) and goodness knows what because we checked it over a few weeks and it seems OK.

Oh actually - they've just changed their minds on the nuts thing..... now they don't do that much, do they?!!

[candj]

I think it was last spring when we had the biggest impact of swine flu so I suspect maybe we'll have a rise in new cases then - spring being the 'wettish' months conducive for a virus.

I too had been deliberating about the jabs for my two, but am booked in this week as my GP rang me last week to say they were offering it.

[ladywotlunches]

good point candj - and the recent reduction in cases is probably because of the big freeze - viruses can't survive so long on surfaces at below freezing temps. Which is probably why we've had such severe weather - ain't nature grand!

[Sanne Panne]

Good points all, thanks so much. I think I'll get it for my daughter and will give my own jab another think!

[????]

Latest from BBC

[ludoscotts]

> Can you get thiomersal-free vaccinations yet?

Yes you can request Celvapan which is thiomersal and adjuvant-free, if your GP practice doesn't have it in stock they can refer you to a nearby practice.

hi was just wondering about the above comments what is the benefit of it being thiomersal and adjuvant-free?what are these drugs?

also is anyone else registered at the surgery(near costcutters/library)? we havent been called for one yet and wondered if I should contact them.

[candj]

Thiomersal is the mercury-based preservative for the vaccine and adjuvant does something like enhance the immune system's response to the vaccine (I think the latter for those who might be allergic to egg whites, the medium of most jabs).

PS- Don't quote me as I'm not a doctor so ask your GP if you're concerned!