Pregnant? Get a jab - urgently!

Laura Johnson
If you're pregnant you should get the flu vaccine.

That was the powerful message yesterday after it emerged that swine flu is rampaging through Britain again.

So far as many as four pregnant women have needed intensive care after contracting flu this autumn, experts said.
And the death toll from flu has risen to 17 - with a number of deaths linked to a resurgence of swine flu, which threatens pregnant women.

Another 17 have needed ventilation in hospital after suffering lung failure as a result of flu, the Health Protection Agency said.

The HPA said 14 of the 17 dead from the flu were known not to have been vaccinated. About half would have been advised to get the jab because they were in at risk groups.

Professor John Watson, of the HPA, said: "It's not unusual to see this level of flu activity at this time of the year but, due to the fact that the H1N1 swine flu is one of the predominant strains circulating at the moment, we are seeing more severe illness in people under the age of 65 than we would usually see.

"Flu can be an extremely serious illness for pregnant women, the elderly and those with other underlying conditions such as heart problems, diabetes, lung, liver or renal diseases and those who have weakened immune systems.

"Flu vaccination offers the best protection for those at high risk from seasonal flu and we urge all those in these 'at risk' groups - including pregnant women and healthcare workers - to get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible.

"It's not too late and it could save lives."