STANDFIRST

PEOPLE in Wales who are eligible for a flu vaccination on the NHS are being urged to get protected against the virus through an annual national campaign - and pregnant women are a particular focus.

PREGNANT women are being advised to be vaccinated against flu, to reduce the potential dangers of the virus to themselves and their unborn babies.

The annual national vaccination campaign to encourage people who are entitled to a free flu jab on the NHS to take up the offer, is getting underway.

And health officials in Wales are particularly keen to boost the take-up among pregnant women - one of the eligible 'at risk' groups - less than half of whom (47.3 per cent) were vaccinated last year.

A pregnant woman who contracts flu is five times more likely to have a stillborn baby or for her baby to die in the first week following the birth. She is also three times more likely to deliver prematurely, and seven times more likely to die than a non-pregnant woman with flu.

“Pregnant women often don’t understand the risk not only to themselves but to their unborn baby because of the changes in the immune system during pregnancy," said Gillian Smith, acting director for the Royal College of Midwives in Wales.

"No mother should take that risk. Please ask your midwife or GP about this, and stay safe this winter.”

A number of studies have shown that flu vaccination during pregnancy also provides a level of immunity against flu to infants in their first few months of life.

Women can have the flu vaccination at any stage in their pregnancy, but the sooner the better. It is perfectly safe to breastfeed after the flu vaccination. Lots of information and data on inactivated flu vaccines has been collected from across the world and there is no indication that these vaccinations have any adverse effect on mother or baby.

Dr Richard Roberts, head of the vaccine preventable diseases programme at Public Health Wales, said expectant mothers do not have the same ability as other healthy people to fight viruses such as flu, and this can be "devastating" for them and their babies.

“If a pregnant woman catches the flu it can cause severe complications to mum and baby. But this can all be prevented with one quick, simple, free vaccination," he said.

Mum-to-be Joanne Black, from Newport, is 36 weeks pregnant and had her jab at her GP surgery.

“A lot of people call common colds “flu”, but flu is different," she said.

“I’ve been told by my midwife that it can even kill mums-to-be and their babies, because our bodies aren’t strong enough to fight off the virus like other people.

“Pregnant women are very aware of the dangers of whooping cough, but I think some don’t realise that flu is just as serious.

“One of my best friends is 21 weeks pregnant, and she’s going to have her jab because her midwife explained how important it is.

“I would urge all other mums-to-be in Wales to do the same as soon as they can - please don’t take any chances with flu.”

THE annual flu vaccination programme aims to ensure that free protection is there for those who need it most.

An annual jab is needed as flu viruses change and vaccines must be changed too, to reflect this.

This includes everyone aged 65 and over, and people with certain long term health conditions, as well as pregnant women.

Two- and three-year-olds, and this year for the first time all children aged four on August 31 are also being offered protection with a nasal spray flu vaccine at GP surgeries, with Year Seven pupils being offered the nasal spray in schools.

This is the second phase of the childhood flu vaccination programme and it is anticipated that when the programme is fully implemented all children aged two-16 years will be offered nasal spray flu vaccine each autumn. Other eligible groups include:

• People aged 65 or over;

• People aged six months and over with chronic medical conditions such as heart or chest problems (including asthma), kidney or liver disease, diabetes, neurological conditions, stroke (or mini stroke), or spleen problems;

• People with lowered immunity due to either a medical condition or taking medication such as steroids or cancer treatment;

• People living in a nursing or residential home;

• Carers of an older or disabled person, or of someone whose health would be at risk if the carer got flu;

• Carers who work on a voluntary basis providing frequent care to one or more vulnerable people whose welfare would be at risk if the individual became ill;

• People working in voluntary organisations providing planned first aid such as St John’s Ambulance;

• Community first responders

• Health workers with direct patient contact (this should be provided by their employer).

Last year, more than half (53 per cent) of those aged 65 or over in the Gwent area were vaccinated - but just 36 per cent of people in ‘at risk’ groups under the age of 65 with long term illnesses protected themselves.

For more information, visit www.beatflu.org or find Beat Flu on Twitter and Facebook.