Scots swine flu jab drive set to target 130,000 Scots every week

Published on Sunday 18 October 2009 23:10

HEALTH officials are preparing for a publicity offensive to encourage as many Scots as possible to have the swine flu vaccine in efforts to limit the impact of the pandemic in Scotland.

The NHS plans to vaccinate 1.3 million people in at-risk groups by the end of the year, meaning around 130,000 a week will have to receive the jab.

But the programme, which starts on Wednesday, is dependent on the drugs manufacturers delivering enough supplies of vaccines to all four nations of the UK.

A publicity campaign is now being planned to encourage those in the priority groups for the jab – including pregnant women and those with chronic health problems – to have the vaccine once invited by their GP.

Yesterday, health secretary Nicola Sturgeon warned that "bigger challenges" were in store with the pandemic in Scotland.

She told the SNP conference in Inverness that prevention is better than cure in dealing with swine flu. "That is why our best defence will be vaccination," she said. "Our vaccination programme

will begin on Wednesday. It will take time to complete but by the end of this year, we will have offered vaccine to 1.3 million Scots, including frontline health staff and those most at risk of complications.

"Now I know that some people worry about vaccines. I know that there are those who think vaccination is not necessary. But make no mis- take, swine flu can kill and this vaccine will save lives."

The swine flu vaccination programme will begin on Wednesday, with patients in hospital getting the jab first.

Next week, GPs will start inviting certain patients to be vaccinated. People are being urged to wait until they receive a letter from their doctor before turning up at their surgery for vaccination.