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Swine flu: Leeds medical staff get vaccinated
MEDICAL staff queued up to get protected against swine flu after the jab was given in Leeds hospitals this week.
Around 200 staff have been vaccinated every day after a team targeted hospitals in the area to offer immunisation.
This includes the LGI, St James's, Chapel Allerton, Seacroft and Wharfedale hospital staff – particularly those working in intensive care and A&E.
The team are based at different hospitals every day and will continue to administer the vaccine for an indefinite period to staff and high-risk patients.
The jab will then be available to the public who are "at risk" – but not in hospital – at the end of November.
This includes pregnant women and patients with existing health problems who will be written to by their GP and invited to visit the vaccination clinic.
Specialist practitioner Janet Maynard was heading the team giving out injections to staff at the LGI.
She said: "This is going to go on as long as we have the vaccine.
"Initially it was frontline staff and now it's anyone who's facing patients. We have to protect staff and patients.
"We try and target where patients are most vulnerable so today the team are at the cancer unit."
Staff have been so keen to get protection, they have been queuing up.
"There's a high demand. Swine flu is a new thing and people are frightened of the consequences both getting it and infecting patients.
It's a precautionary measure," said Janet.
Senior sister Iona Goodwin and nursing assistant Elaine Pratten were in line to get immunised.
Elaine said: "My husband is quite ill so it is something I have been waiting for.
"My husband is at risk and I don't want to risk taking it ho me to my family and I want to protect myself and other members of staff."
Iona added: "The trust has been promoting the injections for staff so that we can keep hospitals open, protect our patients, protect our staff and not take infections home to our families.
Everyone is very positive and very glad that it's come out."
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Weather for Leeds
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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