Swine Flu Vaccine by October
posted: 18/08/2009
People with HIV will be among the first to be offered vaccination to help protect against for swine flu when the vaccine is ready, probably before early October. The Secretary of State for Health announced that individuals with underlying health conditions, including HIV, would be first in line for the vaccination.
The UK guidance is to also vaccinate everyone living in the same home as someone diagnosed with HIV. Pregnant women and individuals aged over 65 with underlying health conditions are also priority groups under the plan.
Vaccination is different from treatment for swine flu. Vaccination aims to stop people from getting it. If you do get swine flu, treatment for it with Tamiflu may help shorten the illness and reduce the symptoms.
There is no sign that people with HIV are more likely to get swine flu or will have problems as a result of getting it, unless the CD4 cell count is low.
Each year people with HIV are advised to have the annual seasonal flu vaccine. What is different this year is this particular flu (H1N1) will probably affect very large numbers of people, and there is also a fair chance that it will evolve so it is more powerful than normal winter flu. So far most cases of swine flu have not caused severe illness or led to life-threatening complications, but flu is a virus that evolves fast. Like seasonal flu, this flu causes unpleasant symptoms, most notably a high temperature.
Underlying health problems risks
As with any flu, swine flu can have more serious implications for people with conditions such as lung disease, heart disease or diabetes. Individuals with a suppressed immune system, including people with HIV, especially if the CD4 cell count is below 200 cells/mm3 can also have an increased risk of complications. There is no evidence that the current form of swine flu is causing problems in people with low CD4 counts. Nevertheless, people with CD4 counts below 200 should always seek medical advice from their HIV clinic if flu symptoms persist or worsen despite antiviral treatment for flu, not least because symptoms of an opportunistic infection (such as the type of pneumonia called PCP) may be mistaken for flu.
Two doses of vaccine from your GP
The swine flu vaccine will be provided at GPs' surgeries. You will need two doses. The programme of vaccination will start immediately the product has been approved as safe and effective. This is expected to be early October at the latest.
Department of Health vaccination guidance
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