Flu jab for at-risk patients, doctors told

Published on Tuesday 21 July 2009 21:59

SCOTLAND'S chief medical officer has written to doctors across Scotland urging them to use their clinical judgment when deciding which patients to give antiviral drugs.

Dr Harry Burns said GPs should particularly target drugs like Tamiflu at those patients where there was a risk they may suffer a severe illness.

The Scottish Government said the guidance was about making sure that doctors used their clinical judgment when prescribing the drugs, rather than trying to make sure stocks did not run out or rationing them.

The letter from Dr Burns said: "It is important that doctors should exercise their clinical judgment in deciding who should receive antivirals.

"GPs should use their discretion to authorise antivirals for anyone for whom, in their clinical judgment, influenza A H1N1 virus presents a significant risk of, or is already causing severe illness."

The guidance said that antivirals should be available to all patients with the infection, but especially those at higher risk of complications or death.

Dr Burns said at-risk groups included people with heart disease, liver disease, asthma and diabetes.

Pregnant women, children under five and over-65s were also said to be among those more at risk.

The letter continues: "The development of an antiviral strategy based on treating all cases allows doctors to prescribe antivirals in cases where they consider such use appropriate based on an individualised patient assessment.

"In conclusion, the data available to date suggest that underlying medical conditions recognised as conferring increased risk from seasonal influenza also confer increased risk from influenza A H1N1 virus.

"The antiviral strategy targets treatment on all cases but is particularly aimed at those who are at highest risk of serious illness or death."

Dr Burns said the virus continued to be sensitive to antiviral drugs, although there was one isolated case of resistance to Tamiflu reported in a patient in Denmark.