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The UK supplies of H1N1 vaccination will be distributed in the next 2 weeks after licensing approval was given for the Glaxo Smith Kline jab last Friday.

Those in at risk groups will be given first priority for the vaccination which comes in two stages, three weeks apart.

A limited number of vaccinations will be available from about the 19th of October at GP surgeries, Primary Care, Acute and Mental Health Trusts where staff have been finalising details of who should receive the first vaccinations.

Front-line healthcare and socialcare workers are amongst the priority employees eligible for the vaccination both to protect their health and to minimise the risk of their spreading the virus to vulnerable people whilst they go about their visits and treatments.

For the rest of us, we are advised to sign up for the seasonal flu vaccine which offers some protection against H1N1 based flu.

Those who are more at risk from becoming seriously ill with swine flu are people with:

• chronic (long-term) lung disease, including people who have had drug treatment for their asthma within the past three years,
• chronic heart disease,
• chronic kidney disease,
• chronic liver disease,
• chronic neurological disease (neurological disorders include motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis),
• suppressed immune systems (whether caused by disease or treatment),
• diabetes,
• pregnant women,
• people aged 65 or older, and
• young children under five.

If you are in any of these categories you should contact your GP to book an appointment for your vaccination as soon as possible – remember there is a 3 week period between the first and second jab and we may well be in the early stages of the second wave of swine flu with a peak of activity forecast around 6 – 8 weeks ie within the next month.

H1N1 Swineflu now accounts for 75% of the influenza-like illness worldwide. Keep up to date with the latest news on H1 N1 swineflu by subscribing to our RSS feeds.

@Veterus