We're very pleased to have Professor David Salisbury, the Department of Health's director of immunisation, as our guest for a live webchat this Friday, 30 Oct, at 1pm.

Professor Salisbury, who originally trained as a paediatrician, and also works extensively for the World Health Organisation including his role as chairman of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Vaccines, is a timely guest given that the swine flu vaccination
programme is now being rolled out. Pregnant women are one of the first 'at-risk' groups being offered the jab.

There has already been a large amount of discussion about the vaccine, so this is your chance to put your questions, concerns and comments to the government's top vaccines expert.

As usual, if you can't join us on the day, please post your question here and Prof Salisbury will try to answer as many as possible.

hi my dd is 13 weeks pregnant , will she get offerd the swine flu jab and how safe is it to the unborn child and mother ,as ive heard a lot of bad press about it thanks

Ohhhh... that's going to be a lively chat

what do you think his fave biscuit is?

I won't be here, so can I ask:

What are your thoughts on vaccinating boys against HPV ? I know anal and HPV related head and neck cancers are rare, but their outcomes are very poor.

I take 2 types of immunosupressant drugs for severe rheumatoid arthritis. As well as the swine flu vaccine, I'm advised to also have the seasonal flu and pneumococcal vaccines.

Where can I find any of published data on these vaccines' safety and efficacy for myself and my healthy 'household contact' aka dear husband?

Same question also for safety/efficacy in children. When I look I only find policy interpretations of data. I'd like to read the original science myself.

Many thanks.

I'd like to know more details about the flu vaccine (swine or seasonal) formulations - have all the traces of mercury (thimerosal?) been removed from vaccines across the board? I wouldn't be worried about attenuated/killed virus component - just other chemicals/preservatives/adjuvants in the formulation & potential toxicities. Any details?

I am a parent of a young person with an underlying health condition. I am concerned about her contracting Swine flu but also have concerns wrt to SF vax. <rock and a hard place frankly>

Is it correct that the vaccines offered in the UK will contain adjuvants which have been rejected by US regulators? As I understand it there is little data as to how adjuvants affect children and young people, particularly those with underlying conditions.

Your comments please?

Well done MNHQ, what a catch!

Thanks for coming on and answering questions Dr Salisbury. (I've nothing to add that hasn't already been asked.)

Dr Salsbury you said on the BBC that a baby could theoretically withstand 1000 vaccines at once.
this information is also in the booklet given to new parents, do you stand by this statement.
Would you be willing to prove this theory with the swine flu vaccine perhaps 50 doses in each arm?

Dr Salisbury, why does the government continue to refuse to offer single MMR vaccines despite public demand for them and the well documented (if unconvincingly denied by the government) safety issues with the triple vaccine?