Jennifer Trust Information Information Sheet N° 011.
Influenza (flu) & vaccination
People who are affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy are more prone to respiratory infections. Due to weakened respiratory muscles the ability to cough is restricted, causing difficulty clearing secretions in the throat and lungs. Retained secretions are more likely to become infected which can lead to pneumonia and other infections.
Spinal Muscular Atrophy types II & III are not themselves life threatening, however the risk of respiratory infection can be. This statement is not aimed at creating panic, it is simply meant to highlight the potential need for vigorous intervention. There are several simple techniques, which can be used to reduce the risk of developing a severe respiratory infection.
This Information Sheet deals with flu vaccinations.
(We have other Information Sheets dealing with pneumonia vaccination and antibiotics.)
The flu vaccine is available for children as well as adults, for very young children a reduced dose may be appropriate - any concerns should be discussed with your GP.
The following information is provided by the Department of Health:
Flu
- Flu for most people is an unpleasant but self-limiting illness, the main symptoms lasting about a week. Treatment is symptomatic and those affected are advised to stay at home, rest and drink plenty of fluids.
- For people in certain 'high risk' groups, such as those with underlying respiratory, heart or renal disease (or who are elderly) flu is a significant cause of serious illness and death.
- Complications such as bronchitis and pneumonia are more common in the 'high risk groups' (those with underlying respiratory, heart or renal disease) especially if they are also elderly, and mortality is almost entirely in these groups.
Flu Immunisation Policy
The Secretary of State for Health, Alan Milburn, announced important changes in flu immunisation policy on 23 May 2001. In summary:
Flu vaccine will now be offered to all people aged 65 years and over.
Vaccine continues to be recommended for people of any age with underlying conditions, which put them at higher risk of serious illness from flu, and for those in long stay residential accommodation.
For the first time there will be a target of 70% uptake in people aged 65 years and over, with the aim of a minimum 60% uptake in the first year.
Health authorities are being asked to work with their local general practitioners to contact all people aged 65 years and over, and to achieve the target uptake.
Flu vaccines are not a 100% guarantee that you cannot catch flu, but they do stop most people catching it. If you are unlucky and you do catch it following vaccination then the flu you get should be much milder. Flu vaccinations provide immunity for about a year. For the general population it may be better to catch flu, as this gives a far greater resistance to that strain of flu in the future.
However if a bout of flu would be a serious risk to your health, then you should consider discussing vaccination with your doctor or nurse. Complications, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, which you may be more prone to while you are weakened by flu, can be a serious risk to health for someone affected by SMA.
GPs usually receive flu vaccinations around October, but they will not be available until the specific strain of flu virus active that year has been identified. If you or your child need to be vaccinated it is best to book an appointment early; this will help your surgery know how many people to order vaccine for. Your surgery will usually only order enough vaccine for people within the target group, therefore if you are under 65, but require a vaccine because you have SMA, unless you let your practice know, they simply may not have enough vaccine to meet your needs.
A parent's perspective
Tom's Consultant Neurologist first brought up the subject of flu vaccine, he wrote to our GP, who now orders us a vaccine and phones us when it's ready. Tom has had the vaccination 3 times (since he was 2); he has never had any side effects and has never had flu. | 
