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Swine Flu Information- reproduced from NHS & RCOG

What is swine flu?
Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by a new strain of flu virus. The seasonal flu vaccines that are already available don’t protect against swine flu, so a new flu vaccine has been developed.

How serious is swine flu?
For most people, swine flu is mild. It comes on quickly and generally lasts for around a week. It causes fever, tiredness, a cough and a sore throat. Other symptoms can include a headache, aching muscles, chills, sneezing, a runny nose, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Some people are more likely to become seriously ill with swine flu, including pregnant women. This is why it is important to have the vaccine.

Why are pregnant women being offered the vaccination first?
Pregnant women are considerably more likely to develop serious complications from swine flu. The World Health Organization states that up to 10% of all hospitalised patients with swine flu are women who are more than three months pregnant.
The risk of complications (including miscarriage and premature labour) is highest during the later stages of pregnancy. Having the swine flu vaccine now could help you avoid catching swine flu and protect your baby.

Pregnant women are considerably more likely to
develop serious complications and be hospitalised
with swine flu.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY
About the swine flu vaccine
Vaccines have been developed to protect against the virus that causes swine flu. There are two different brands of vaccine: Pandemrix and Celvapan. Most people given the Pandemrix vaccine will only need one dose. People who have the Celvapan vaccine will need two doses, at least three weeks apart.
Is it the same as the seasonal flu vaccination?
No. The swine flu vaccine is different from the seasonal flu vaccination that’s offered every year. The seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against swine flu. If you are usually advised by your GP to have the seasonal flu vaccination, you should have it as usual.

If you usually have the seasonal flu vaccine, you should continue to have this as normal.

Can the swine flu vaccine be given at the same time as other vaccines?

Yes, the swine flu vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines, including the seasonal flu vaccine. But if two vaccinations are being administered on the same day, they should be given in different arms.

There are two vaccines – which one will I be given?
We advise the use of Pandemrix for pregnant women, as only one dose is required. This means that you will be protected more quickly from the risk of flu than if you receive Celvapan, which requires two doses, at least three weeks apart.

Is the vaccine safe for me and my baby?
Pandemrix and Celvapan are both licensed for use for pregnant women. Similar vaccines containing another flu virus strain (H5N1) have been clinically tested in trials involving over 5,000 people.
When it licensed the vaccines, the European Commission carefully considered all the evidence and recommended them for use. Women who are known to have become pregnant shortly after receiving Pandemrix have gone on to have normal pregnancies.

What is an adjuvanted vaccine?
An adjuvant is added to vaccines so that a lower dose of the vaccine is needed to produce the same level of protection. The adjuvant enhances the immune response seen following vaccination.

The adjuvant used in Pandemrix includes squalene, which is extracted from fish oil and occurs naturally in plants, animals and humans. There is also a small amount of vitamin E (which we all have in our food and in our bodies) and polysorbate 80 (which is found in food and other medicines).

What is thiomersal?
Pandemrix contains thiomersal, which is a preservative that contains a very small amount of mercury.
There is no evidence of risk from thiomersal-containing vaccines for pregnant women and their babies.

Can the swine flu vaccine cause flu?
No. The flu vaccine cannot give you flu as it does not contain a live virus. Some people may experience mild flu-like symptoms (like fever, headache and muscle aches) for up to 48 hours after immunisation as their immune system responds to the vaccine, but this is not flu.

The vaccine is not live and cannot cause swine flu.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

Are there any other side effects?

All vaccinations can produce side effects such as redness, soreness and swelling at the site of the injection. The vast majority of these side effects are not serious.
If you think that you or someone you know has experienced a more serious side effect to Pandemrix or Celvapan, please speak to your GP or midwife or report it to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency at www.mhra.gov.uk/swineflu.
I’ve already had swine flu. Do I still need the vaccine?
Most people cannot be certain they have had swine flu unless it was confirmed by laboratory tests. There are several viruses which can cause flu-like symptoms and so, to be sure that we reduce the risk of infection, we are offering vaccination to all people in the priority groups. It is safe to be vaccinated even if you have already had swine flu and taken antivirals.

Who can’t have the swine flu vaccine?
There are very few people who cannot have the swine flu vaccine. The vaccines should not be given to anyone who has had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or to any component of the vaccine. If you are worried that this may apply to you, talk to your GP or midwife.

What about people with egg allergies?
The Pandemrix vaccine is prepared in hens’ eggs in the same way that seasonal flu vaccines are. It should not be given to people who have had a confirmed anaphylactic reaction (experiencing shock or difficulty breathing) after being exposed to egg products. The Celvapan vaccine is not prepared using eggs, so you should have this vaccine if you have a severe allergy to eggs.

Who can I talk to if I’m concerned?
Contact your GP, practice nurse or midwife if you have any concerns.

What can I do to protect myself and others from swine flu?
The swine flu virus can be transmitted through the droplets that come out of an infected person’s nose and mouth when they cough or sneeze.
The most effective way of reducing transmission is by following simple respiratory and hand hygiene. You can reduce the risk of catching or spreading swine flu by doing the following:

• Catch it – always covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing.
• Bin it – throwing away dirty tissues promptly and carefully.
• Kill it – maintaining good basic hygiene, for example washing hands frequently with soap and warm water or using a sanitiser gel.
Cleaning hard surfaces that are frequently touched (such as door
handles) using a normal cleaning product will also help reduce the
spread of infection.

Can I continue with my normal activities?
Yes. Carry on doing the things you normally do, such as going to work, travelling on public transport and attending family gatherings.

However, try to avoid visiting family or friends who are suffering flu-like symptoms.

If you know of a large number of people falling ill in your neighbourhood, you may prefer to avoid crowded places where possible.

Am I at risk at work?
Legally, employers must assess the risks to their employees from their job, including work risks which may affect expectant mothers.
You should therefore let your employer know, in writing if possible, about your pregnancy as soon as you can. This will allow you both to look at the possible risks of your job and to take any necessary action to protect the health and safety of both you and your baby.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

What should I do if I or people close to me catch swine flu
before I have the vaccine?

If you are pregnant and you think you or people close to you have swine flu, it’s important to contact your doctor, who can advise you on what to do next.

If you are diagnosed with swine flu, you may be offered an
antiviral medicine.

What is the difference between an antiviral and a vaccine?
A vaccine is given to prevent someone from catching an infection.
The body’s immune system then makes antibodies which will fight
off infection if exposure to the virus occurs.

People who are already ill with swine flu are treated with antivirals. Antivirals may help relieve some of the symptoms of swine flu and reduce the potential for serious complications.
Which antiviral will I be given?

Two antiviral medicines (Relenza and Tamiflu) are recommended for pregnant women who have an uncomplicated illness due to swine flu and who do not have an underlying disease.

Relenza is breathed in using an inhaler and is recommended as the first choice for pregnant women because it easily reaches the throat and lungs, where it is needed. It does not reach significant levels in the blood or placenta, and should not affect your pregnancy or your growing baby.

Tamiflu should be offered to you instead of Relenza if you:
• have a condition such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• have difficulty using an inhaler, or
• develop a severe or complicated disease due to flu (you will probably be treated in hospital).
If you are prescribed antiviral medication, it’s important to start taking it as soon as possible.

SWINE FLU AND PREGNANCY

What should I do now?
You should be invited to go to a vaccination clinic or to make an appointment at your GP surgery. Not everyone in the country will get their vaccine at exactly the same time, so don’t worry if you don’t hear from your GP surgery straightaway.
However, if after a few weeks you still haven’t heard anything, get in touch with your GP surgery.

Ovarian Reserve Testing
Women are born with around two million eggs in their ovaries. This number declines continuously until, at the menopause, around 10 000 eggs remain.
‘Ovarian reserve’ describes the numbers of eggs remaining  in the ovaries.

Generally ovarian reserve declines with age,however some women will have a lower ovarian reserve than predicted from their age because of factors such as:

A number of tests can be used to assess ovartian reserve;

These investigations may be performed following poor response to fertility treatment or where diminished ovarian reserve is strongly suspected.
Where a diagnosis of reduced ovarian reserve is made, a poor response to fertility treatment is likely.

Launch of new IVF Service –Sims@Scotia

On Friday September 12th, The Scotia Clinic, Tralee in partnership with the Sims Clinic International launched Sims@Scotia a new and innovative fertility service for couples of Kerry and the region. Welcoming the provision of the service, Dr. Mary Mc Caffrey Consultant Obstetrician/ Gynaecologist at the Scotia Clinic and Kerry General Hospital outlined the guiding ethos behind the affiliation with Sims.

"Since its opening in 2002, at the Scotia Clinic I have encountered many couples who have required access to fertility services. To date this has necessitated people from Kerry and the surrounding region to travel outside the county for the services they require, placing undue pressure and strain in an already challenging situation. Many of these services could have effectively been provided locally. With our affiliation with Sims, I am pleased to announce, that now at Scotia, comprehensive fertility services (aside from two visits to Dublin) can be provided in-house by our team of trained clinical staff with the support and assistance of the specialist team at Sims."

The Scotia Clinic will operate as a satellite service of Sims, while continuing to provide its already extensive range of services in pregnancy care, antenatal and parenting services and gynaecology care.

Dr. Tony Walsh, Director of Sims, in his address also welcomed the partnership with the Scotia Clinic and acknowledged the foresight of those involved in Scotia in ensuring that the people of Kerry can have access within the county to the full complement of fertility services, otherwise available in larger urban centres.

"We welcome the partnership of Sims with the Scotia Clinic. This will make it possible for the full complement of fertility services such as IVF to be made more easily accessible and convenient for people in Kerry. I look forward to the continuation of an excellent working relationship with Dr Mary McCaffrey and her team and we at Sims appreciate their exceptional experience and training in fertility treatment. We look forward to the synergies that can be achieved in the provision of fertility services."

 
At the launch Dr. McCaffrey also called for a national policy to address the affordability issue of IVF for public patients, adding that full access to IVF services should be available to those who require same independent of their economic circumstances. 

Complementary photographs will be provided by Domnick Walsh photographer. Tel 066 7122981  Email domnickwalsh@eircom.net

Any queries on the services provided can be directed to Cliona O’Regan at 066 71 81100.