This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-34790037
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'Alarm' as patients shun flu jab | 'Alarm' as patients shun flu jab |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Doctors have expressed alarm at a seemingly sharp fall in the number of people having the seasonal flu jab. | Doctors have expressed alarm at a seemingly sharp fall in the number of people having the seasonal flu jab. |
| Tens of thousands of high-risk people in England may be vulnerable to the virus after a 6% fall in immunisations at GP surgeries. | Tens of thousands of high-risk people in England may be vulnerable to the virus after a 6% fall in immunisations at GP surgeries. |
| The perceived failures of last year's vaccine and warmer seasonal weather than usual may be contributing to the fall, the Royal College of GPs says. | The perceived failures of last year's vaccine and warmer seasonal weather than usual may be contributing to the fall, the Royal College of GPs says. |
| However, some people may still be having the jab at their local pharmacy. | However, some people may still be having the jab at their local pharmacy. |
| A new seasonal flu jab is needed annually to match the strains of flu that are circulating that year. | A new seasonal flu jab is needed annually to match the strains of flu that are circulating that year. |
| But now doctors are complaining of fridges full of unused vaccine. | But now doctors are complaining of fridges full of unused vaccine. |
| Last winter's jab was at one point deemed "barely effective" after the flu virus mutated so the vaccine offered limited protection. | |
| Figures eventually showed it worked in a third of cases and it is too soon to gauge the effectiveness of this winter's jab. | |
| "It is possible that perceptions of lower vaccine effectiveness last year may have influenced people," said Prof Simon de Lusignan from the RCGP. | "It is possible that perceptions of lower vaccine effectiveness last year may have influenced people," said Prof Simon de Lusignan from the RCGP. |
| The organisation estimates that each of England's 8,000 practices has immunised 100 fewer patients than at this point last year. | The organisation estimates that each of England's 8,000 practices has immunised 100 fewer patients than at this point last year. |
| The greatest concern is for at-risk groups, which include the elderly, pregnant women and those with other medical conditions. | The greatest concern is for at-risk groups, which include the elderly, pregnant women and those with other medical conditions. |
| The chairwoman of the RCGP, Dr Maureen Baker, said: "These figures are extremely alarming. | The chairwoman of the RCGP, Dr Maureen Baker, said: "These figures are extremely alarming. |
| "We are experiencing an incredibly mild November this year, but we don't need cold weather for a flu outbreak and influenza is a horrible illness that can also trigger a host of other health problems." | "We are experiencing an incredibly mild November this year, but we don't need cold weather for a flu outbreak and influenza is a horrible illness that can also trigger a host of other health problems." |
| However, for the first time this winter people have been able to get their NHS flu jab at pharmacies. | However, for the first time this winter people have been able to get their NHS flu jab at pharmacies. |
| The pharmacy should tell the GP surgery that the immunisation has taken place, but it is not clear if all vaccinations have been recorded and are up-to-date. | The pharmacy should tell the GP surgery that the immunisation has taken place, but it is not clear if all vaccinations have been recorded and are up-to-date. |
| Dr Richard Pebody, from Public Health England, said: "NHS England has confirmed that 400,000 vaccinations have been given to adults in risk groups through pharmacies so far this flu season. | Dr Richard Pebody, from Public Health England, said: "NHS England has confirmed that 400,000 vaccinations have been given to adults in risk groups through pharmacies so far this flu season. |
| "It's likely that some of these vaccinations have yet to be entered on to patient records, which could partly be attributing to lower uptake figures in adults so far this season." | "It's likely that some of these vaccinations have yet to be entered on to patient records, which could partly be attributing to lower uptake figures in adults so far this season." |
| Follow James on Twitter. | Follow James on Twitter. |
| Have you decided against getting the flu jab this year? Tell us why. Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Have you decided against getting the flu jab this year? Tell us why. Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |