Many health care workers have been vaccinated against Swine Flu. While rates of swineflu have dropped from the peak seen in late 2009, we are still seeing cases, and want to be prepared for a possible second or later wave of infection - as was experienced in previous pandemics. Healthcare workers, including all clinical, admin and management staff working in the health service, are being asked to get their swine flu vaccine before February 1st.

Getting the Swine Flu vaccine will protect you from Swine Flu - and if you can't get this flu, you won’t pass it to your patients and your family. Every vaccinated person helps to stop this flu from spreading.

What is Pandemic H1N1 or Swine Flu?
Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 or Swine Flu is a new form of flu that, for most people, has caused mild to moderate illness. However, some people have had a more severe illness and some have died – including younger children, pregnant women, people with long-term illnesses and previously healthy adults.

If it’s a mostly mild illness, why vaccinate so many people?
First of all, it’s a mild illness for most people, but not for everyone. Getting the vaccine protects you, but it also protects the people around you too, like your family or children, your patients, or someone close to you who is not in full health. The more people that get the vaccine, the less flu gets passed around. If you are vaccinated, Swine Flu stops with you.

As a healthcare worker you are one of the first to get the vaccine because:

• you are more likely to come into contact with people who have flu

• you can easily pass pandemic flu to vulnerable patients beforeyou even realise you are ill

• you can easily bring the infection home to your family before you realise you are ill

Does everyone need to get the vaccine?
If you have had flu since April, you should still get the vaccine, as it may not have been the Pandemic H1N1 2009 or Swine Flu virus. If you have had a confirmed positive lab test for Swine Flu or Pandemic H1N1 2009, you do not need the vaccine.

How long does it take the vaccine to work?
The vaccine starts to work within two weeks, so please ensure that you continue to follow good infection control after being vaccinated. If you cough or sneeze - Catch It in a tissue, Bin It and Kill It by washing your hands with soap and water.

Do I need one or two doses of vaccine?
There are two different makes of vaccine being used in Ireland; Pandemrix (manufactured by GSK) and Celvapan (manufactured by Baxter).

For the Pandemrix vaccine, one dose of the vaccine will be enough to protect most people from Swine Flu. The only exception to this ispeople with immunosuppression who will require two doses of this vaccine.  Immunosuppressed people would include people with cancer or on cancer treatment. Check with your GP if you are unsure. 

For the Celvapan vaccine, 2 doses of vaccine are required to give full protection from Swine Flu. Both vaccines are considered to be equally effective and have the same safety profile.

Where a second dose of vaccine is needed, it should be given after a gap of at least three weeks or longer. If you need a second dose of vaccine, the HSE will let you know when it is available and invite you to attend to get it.

How safe is the Swine Flu vaccine?
The Swine Flu vaccines have been licensed by the Irish Medicines Board and the European Medicines Agency. These vaccines have been given to millions of people across Europe already this year. Reactions have beennormal and similar to seasonal flu vaccines, which have been used for more than 60 years. Serious side effects are expected to be very rare and the Swine Flu vaccine cannot give you Swine Flu. A link at the end of this page will give you more information about Vaccine Safety and any up to date reaction reports from the Irish Medicines Board.

What is Thiomersal and is it safe?
Thiomersal in an ingredient in the Pandemrix Swine Flu vaccine and, yes, it is safe. It is used to stop vaccines becoming contaminated. It is a mercury based preservative which been used in medical products and vaccines for more than 60 years.

Thiomersal is broken down in the body and one of the products is ethyl mercury. It appears that ethyl mercury is being confused with methyl mercury and therefore is presumed to have the same toxicity as methyl mercury despite it being a different compound.

There is no evidence that ethyl mercury in vaccines has any adverse effects apart from the minor reactions such as swelling and redness at the site of injection. Everybody in the population (including pregnant women) is expected to be exposed to small amounts of methyl mercury via food, especially fish. Vaccination is not a significant source of mercury at an individual level, and the benefits of uncontaminated vaccine are very considerable.

What is Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)?
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is a nerve condition that can result in temporary paralysis and was seen in some people who received another type of Swine Flu vaccine in 1976. Studies have shown since then that GBS may occur very rarely with flu vaccinations – about one case for every million people vaccinated. More recent studies have shown us that the risk of getting GBS as a result of having the flu itself is actually much greater. There is also evidence that the vaccine protects against GBS.

Is it safe for pregnant women to be vaccinated?
Yes. The vaccine is safe to use in pregnancy and is recommended for all women from 14 weeks pregnant to 6 weeks after giving birth. Pregnant healthcare workers and pregnant women with long term health conditions should get the vaccine at any stage of pregnancy. This is because they are at higher risk of exposure or complications from Pandemic (H1N1) 2009. Read more about swine flu vaccines and pregnancy here.

Is there anyone who cannot get Swine Flu vaccine?
The vaccine should not be given to children under 6 months of age, and should be postponed if you have a temperature over 38ºC. People with severe egg allergy should have the Celvapan vaccine, as the Pandemrix vaccine is made using eggs. If you have a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome or a severe allergy to other substances in the vaccine please discuss this with your GP or occupational health department.

What can I expect after vaccination?
The most common side effects being seen are expected - they are mild and may include soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was given. Headache, fever, aches and tiredness may occur. Some people may have mild sweating and shivering as their immune system responds to the vaccine, but this is not Swine Flu and will pass after a day or so. Severe allergic reactions are expected to be very rare.

What if I don’t feel well after vaccination?
Take paracetamol if you have a fever or any pain where the injection was given. If you are pregnant, take paracetamol for fever, not ibuprofen or aspirin. Avoid clothes rubbing against the injection area and drink plenty of fluids. Remember if you are unwell after getting a vaccine, you could be sick for some other reason – don’t assume it’s the flu vaccine and take medical advice if needed.

Do I have to pay for the vaccine?
The vaccine and its administration are free of charge for everyone.

Talk to your Occupational Health Dept or your line manager and get the Swine Flu Vaccine now.

Read more about Vaccine Safety Here

See a list of HSE Vaccine Clinics and make a booking here