Yesterday one of my mum friends was ringing round desperately trying to get swine flu jabs for her little girls (aged 10 months and six). ‘I just don’t want them to get sick,’ she told me.
I totally understand her concern. Having experienced swine flu myself, I know how nasty it can be. No 1 Son is getting the vaccine next week but only because he’s asthmatic; otherwise he wouldn’t qualify for it.
At the moment, there seems to be widespread confusion about who should, and who shouldn’t be given the jabs. Flu levels are increasing in children under five, and yet children who are otherwise healthy don’t qualify for the jab on the NHS. And we’ve been warned that school-age children are at risk as term begins.
But are we panicking unnecessarily? I’d love to know what you think.
*You can see the symptoms of swine flu here.
written by Liz Jarvis