anyone else tempted to keep their child out of school next week because of the swine flu epidemic?

[wheelsonthebus]

Just wondering how worried other parents are?

smbrookes: that sounds terrible!

The provision of immunisation services is the responsibility of individual GP practices - from the keeping of accurate patient records, to the ordering of the vaccine supply, to the appointment-making to the timely administration.

If I were you, I'd be complaining: to the practice in the first place (copied to PCT), and if no satisfactory response on upwards through the layers of NHS management (copied to MP, DH and RCGP).

On the Guardian website in the breaking news bar at the top of the page

Parents had no need to panic but should adopt a disciplined approach to curbing the spread of flu, said the expert, who advised them to keep children away from school if they showed signs of flu.

Although closing schools in response to flu pandemics had not proved effective, Prof Oxford said parents were far from "powerless" and could aid the fight against the virus by ensuring good hand hygiene and keeping children away from others with the illness where possible.

Surely this is stating the obvious???

Dcs had swine flu last winter, ds had the antivirals because he gets asthma, with dd we didn't bother.

It just steadily worked it's way through the school, some parents terming it SF, some not.

I was pg but in first trimester so did not have the jab, nor would I have done.

For the overwhelming majority it's just a minor short-lived lurgy far less unpleasant than a lot of other bugs, like the norovirus that went through the school when I was pg - yuk.

smbrookes - it sounds as if your surgery has not handled this well at all. Ours holds flu vaccine clinics in the village hall throughout a week in October each year, when all at-risk groups are dealt with at once. Patients are given about a month's notice by letter. If anyone is unable to make it that week for any reason, they can make an appointment with a practice nurse instead (as my DD did this year and was vaccinated the following week).

I agree with onimolap that you should take this up with them.

Won't keep dds off school, unless they are poorly.

Mind you, they have been vaccinated (mildly at risk) but wouldn't anyway.