Dozytoes
28-07-09, 10:27 AM
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/116867/Leading-GP-I-m-not-sure-I-ll-give-my-own-child-flu-vaccination
LEADING GP: I’M NOT SURE I’LL GIVE MY OWN CHILD FLU VACCINATION
http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/285x214/116867_1.jpg
Dr Andrew Buist hasn't decided whether he will have the swine flu vaccination
(http://www.express.co.uk/myexpress/)
Tuesday July 28,2009
By Paul Gilbride
ONE of Scotland’s most senior family doctors yesterday sparked safety fears over the swine flu vaccine, which is being hastily manufactured before the expected explosion of the virus later this year.
Dr Andrew Buist, deputy chairman of the BMA’s Scottish General Practitioners Committee, has yet to decide whether he will have the jab or allow his child to have it.
He said he will probably be immunised, but until the vaccine is licensed and he has been reassured on its safety, he is holding back on a decision.
The expected date of arrival of the vaccine has already slipped from early next month to mid-September, which could dash the Scottish Government’s target to have 50 per cent of the population vaccinated by Christmas.
So far, 30 people in Britain – four in Scotland – have died from the virus.
But plans to fast-track the swine flu vaccine across Britain before large-scale testing are arousing concerns among experts.
The UK is to start using the vaccines within weeks as soon as it is given the green light by the European Medicines Agency.
Health officials north and south of the Border won’t know if the new vaccine causes any rare side-effects until millions of people get jabs – but feel the benefit of saving lives is worth the gamble.
The World Health Organisation’s flu chief has already warned about the safety issues of untested vaccines.
Yesterday the GP, based in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, said: “I would want to be reassured it had got its licence and preliminary safety approval had been given and, once that had happened, I’d probably take it because undoubtedly, as a frontline healthcare worker, I would be exposed to the virus.”
But he said he would not want to make a decision at this stage and, like every parent, would have to consider the benefits of the vaccine, once licensed, before deciding on the vaccination of his child.
He added: “My child’s mother and I will consider the evidence of safety when the vaccination becomes available and will make a decision based on that information.”
The Scottish Government’s target is to immunise half the population before the end of the year and each person will require two doses of the vaccine, delivered between two and four weeks apart.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We are preparing rigorously to ensure that the NHS is ready whenever the H1N1 vaccine arrives, but this does not necessarily mean that vaccination will commence immediately.
“No vaccine will be used without scientific and medical advice indicating it is safe to do so.”
LEADING GP: I’M NOT SURE I’LL GIVE MY OWN CHILD FLU VACCINATION
http://images.dailyexpress.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/285x214/116867_1.jpg
Dr Andrew Buist hasn't decided whether he will have the swine flu vaccination
(http://www.express.co.uk/myexpress/)
Tuesday July 28,2009
By Paul Gilbride
ONE of Scotland’s most senior family doctors yesterday sparked safety fears over the swine flu vaccine, which is being hastily manufactured before the expected explosion of the virus later this year.
Dr Andrew Buist, deputy chairman of the BMA’s Scottish General Practitioners Committee, has yet to decide whether he will have the jab or allow his child to have it.
He said he will probably be immunised, but until the vaccine is licensed and he has been reassured on its safety, he is holding back on a decision.
The expected date of arrival of the vaccine has already slipped from early next month to mid-September, which could dash the Scottish Government’s target to have 50 per cent of the population vaccinated by Christmas.
So far, 30 people in Britain – four in Scotland – have died from the virus.
But plans to fast-track the swine flu vaccine across Britain before large-scale testing are arousing concerns among experts.
The UK is to start using the vaccines within weeks as soon as it is given the green light by the European Medicines Agency.
Health officials north and south of the Border won’t know if the new vaccine causes any rare side-effects until millions of people get jabs – but feel the benefit of saving lives is worth the gamble.
The World Health Organisation’s flu chief has already warned about the safety issues of untested vaccines.
Yesterday the GP, based in Blairgowrie, Perthshire, said: “I would want to be reassured it had got its licence and preliminary safety approval had been given and, once that had happened, I’d probably take it because undoubtedly, as a frontline healthcare worker, I would be exposed to the virus.”
But he said he would not want to make a decision at this stage and, like every parent, would have to consider the benefits of the vaccine, once licensed, before deciding on the vaccination of his child.
He added: “My child’s mother and I will consider the evidence of safety when the vaccination becomes available and will make a decision based on that information.”
The Scottish Government’s target is to immunise half the population before the end of the year and each person will require two doses of the vaccine, delivered between two and four weeks apart.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “We are preparing rigorously to ensure that the NHS is ready whenever the H1N1 vaccine arrives, but this does not necessarily mean that vaccination will commence immediately.
“No vaccine will be used without scientific and medical advice indicating it is safe to do so.”