Menu
15/10/2009
Mums-In-Wating Get Unproved Flu Jab
It has emerged that pregnant women are to get a form of swine flu vaccine that is not recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The vaccine Pandemrix, which makes up the bulk of NHS supply, contains a chemical called an adjuvant that has never been tested on mums-to-be.
The WHO Strategic Advisory Group said that pregnant women should be given adjuvant-free formulations of the vaccine whenever possible.
But the Department of Health's Director of Immunisations Professor David Salisbury said that even though the NHS has stocks of an alternative vaccine called Celvapan, it will not be prioritised for pregnant women
"If the virus is increasing, as it has been recently and we had the supply of one vaccine ahead of the other, then we have to make a judgement that says pregnant women are at high risk and they need to be protected.
"In those circumstances I would recommend whatever is available to hand to protect them," he told Sky News today.
The Department of Health says pregnant women are four times more likely to suffer serious complications if they catch swine flu and vaccination is essential.
It insists Pandemrix is safe and licensed for mums-to-be.
However, the licence was granted by medicine regulators based on clinical trials in healthy adults.
(BMcC/GK)
The vaccine Pandemrix, which makes up the bulk of NHS supply, contains a chemical called an adjuvant that has never been tested on mums-to-be.
The WHO Strategic Advisory Group said that pregnant women should be given adjuvant-free formulations of the vaccine whenever possible.
But the Department of Health's Director of Immunisations Professor David Salisbury said that even though the NHS has stocks of an alternative vaccine called Celvapan, it will not be prioritised for pregnant women
"If the virus is increasing, as it has been recently and we had the supply of one vaccine ahead of the other, then we have to make a judgement that says pregnant women are at high risk and they need to be protected.
"In those circumstances I would recommend whatever is available to hand to protect them," he told Sky News today.
The Department of Health says pregnant women are four times more likely to suffer serious complications if they catch swine flu and vaccination is essential.
It insists Pandemrix is safe and licensed for mums-to-be.
However, the licence was granted by medicine regulators based on clinical trials in healthy adults.
(BMcC/GK)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
17 November 2011
Flu Vaccination Delayed For 'More Advice'
The Department of Health has said on Thursday that it needs further advice from the committee looking into the flu vaccine before it can roll out a larger programme. The announcement follows a request from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to look at whether the flu vaccination programme should be extended to healthy children.
Flu Vaccination Delayed For 'More Advice'
The Department of Health has said on Thursday that it needs further advice from the committee looking into the flu vaccine before it can roll out a larger programme. The announcement follows a request from Health Secretary Andrew Lansley to look at whether the flu vaccination programme should be extended to healthy children.
06 June 2006
Overweight mothers pose health risk, study claims
Overweight and obese mums-to-be are risking the health of themselves and their unborn children, as well as putting additional strain on the health service, research has suggested. Researchers at Teesside University carried out a study into maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome.
Overweight mothers pose health risk, study claims
Overweight and obese mums-to-be are risking the health of themselves and their unborn children, as well as putting additional strain on the health service, research has suggested. Researchers at Teesside University carried out a study into maternal obesity and pregnancy outcome.
28 September 2012
Pregnant Women To Be Offered Whooping Cough Vaccine
A new whooping cough vaccine is to be offered to pregnant women across the UK, in an effort to protect babies from an escalating outbreak of the disease. It is known that very young babies are at the greatest risk of serious complications. Ten have died in the UK so far this year.
Pregnant Women To Be Offered Whooping Cough Vaccine
A new whooping cough vaccine is to be offered to pregnant women across the UK, in an effort to protect babies from an escalating outbreak of the disease. It is known that very young babies are at the greatest risk of serious complications. Ten have died in the UK so far this year.
03 September 2015
Pregnant Women Urged To Get Whooping Cough Vaccine
Pregnant women are being encouraged to take up the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, after new figures revealed the disease remains at increased levels in England. Published today, the data for the year to March 2015, shows whooping cough vaccine coverage in pregnant women averaged 56.4% in England.
Pregnant Women Urged To Get Whooping Cough Vaccine
Pregnant women are being encouraged to take up the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, after new figures revealed the disease remains at increased levels in England. Published today, the data for the year to March 2015, shows whooping cough vaccine coverage in pregnant women averaged 56.4% in England.
13 May 2014
Nice Suggests More Midwife-Led Home Births
Women who are healthy and experiencing a 'straight forward' (low risk) pregnancy should be encouraged to give birth in a midwife-led unit rather than a traditional labour ward, according to draft proposals from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
Nice Suggests More Midwife-Led Home Births
Women who are healthy and experiencing a 'straight forward' (low risk) pregnancy should be encouraged to give birth in a midwife-led unit rather than a traditional labour ward, according to draft proposals from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry in the southeast at first otherwise widespread light rain or drizzle for most. It will turn mostly dry towards dawn, although a few patches of light rain or drizzle continuing, mainly in the southwest. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
