As well as offering flu vaccine to key healthcare workers we are asking health authorities this year to ensure they have in place arrangements to evaluate uptake and the impact flu immunisation has in maintaining patient care. The current recommendations are based on existing evidence which shows clear benefits for those in the 'at risk' groups. DH policy on 'flu vaccination is regularly reviewed by an expert panel of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation in the light of all relevant evidence 2. Immunisation is one of the most effective health care interventions, and 'flu vaccines are highly effective in preventing illness and reducing hospital admissions and deaths from 'flu. The World Health Organisation monitors the spread of influenza viruses world-wide, and recommends which virus strains to include in the vaccine to combat the likely prevalent strains.
Influenza vaccine is usually well tolerated.
There may be temporary soreness at the site of injection. Rarely it can cause fever and muscle aches lasting up to two days, and very rarely it has been associated with Guillan-Barre syndrome. Influenza vaccine contains no live virus and cannot therefore cause 'flu. As the vaccine viruses are grown on eggs, people with severe allergy to hen eggs should not be given the vaccine. Uptake was lower in younger 'risk' groups.