Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSOne in five asthma patients may reject swine flu vaccine
Nearly 20 per cent of asthma patients may reject swine flu vaccination, a survey by the charity Asthma UK has revealed.
The results of the poll suggest that only 58 per cent of people with asthma are planning to have the swine flu vaccine. A further 25 per cent said they were still undecided over whether to have the vaccine or not, when it becomes available - probably next month. However, at least 17 per cent would reject it.
The charity has recommended strongly that people with asthma have the vaccine to prevent potentially serious or life-threatening breathing problems related to their condition.
Chief Medical Adviser to Asthma UK Dr Mike Thomas said: “Although swine flu is mild in most cases, people with asthma are at risk of serious breathing complications such as pneumonia if they do develop the illness.”
The online survey of 166 asthma patients follows a similar poll of 1,458 people on the website mumsnet, which found 48 per cent of pregnant women would reject the vaccine.
Nurses and GPs have also expressed reluctance to have the jab.
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment.
Online training units, written and reviewed by experts. Earn two hours' CPD and a personalised certificate for your portfolio.
Subscribers get five FREE learning units and non-subscribers can access each learning unit for £10 + VAT.
Share
Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 26-Sep-2009 7:13 pm
as so many people are reported to have had swine flu already, it is not surprising that people will be unwilling to have the vaccine. some patients are already wary about the annual flu jab in case the swine flu is sneaked in. I forsee a huge excess of vaccine - more waste of our taxes.
Unsuitable or offensive?