UK - Kingston GPs refuse swine flu vaccine

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http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/local/topstories/4712375.Kingston_GPs_refuse_swine_flu_vaccine/

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Kingston GPs refuse swine flu vaccine

6:50am Thursday 5th November 2009

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By Lindsell »

A leading Kingston GP has said he may not take the swine flu vaccination

because it “has been rushed out” but has advised vulnerable patients to

have the free jab.

As many as 22,000 people identified as high-risk including pensioners,

pregnant women and cancer patients in Kingston will start to receive

letters over the next few weeks from GPs to arrange vaccinations against

the pandemic.

A further 3,900 frontline NHS and social care staff including nurses,

doctors, and care home workers will also be offered the vaccination as

part of the first wave of injections.

The number of cases is expected to rise after a summer lull when only

2,000 people collected Tamiflu for swine flu.

Doctors and nurses have been urged to take the injection amid fears many

NHS staff will refuse because they believe the vaccine has not been

properly tested.

But Dr , chairman of the Kingston and Richmond Local Medical

Committee and who described himself as a needle-phobic, said he would

wait and see.

He said: “I’m considering my options. I think there may be some issues

about how extensively it has been tested.

“I’m not in any at-risk group. We are all aware that the vaccine has been

rushed out.

“But there’s no doubt that people at risk should have the vaccine.”

But Dr Hildebrand, director of public health for NHS Kingston,

said the jab was safe.

He said: “The vaccine has been rigorously tested and is the best line of

defence against this virus so I would strongly urge all of those in the

priority groups to have the vaccine.

“The swine flu vaccine does not provide protection against seasonal flu,

so patients who normally get the seasonal flu jab will still need to have

that separately.”

A spokesman said in order to be licensed the vaccine must be safe and

said a question and answerleaflet would be handed out by GPs to patients

on its safety.

Nobody has been hospitalised or died from swine flu so far - despite

worst case scenarios predicting 155 people dying from the pandemic.

Dr Barry, of private Coombe Medical Practice, said after weighing

up the pros and cons neither he, his wife or children would take the

vaccine and admitted his refusal could damage the public health message

NHS Kingston was trying to spread.

He said: “I don’t think it is irresponsible. I think it is responsible

and I think it is not totally honest with your patients not to declare

your own status.

“I think it will have a knock-on effect as I think they want GPs not only

to support it but take it as well. I think quite a lot of GPs will not be

having it.”

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

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