Hi all,

I've read practically every thread on the swine flu vaccine on here and know that many of you would feel a lot better if you could have the adjuvant and thiomersal free version, Celvapan.

I've read on another website that a lady who lives in the London area telephoned her Primary Care Trust (PCT) to request Celvapan over the usual Pandemrix. She was put through to the Public Health Authority and had to explain her reasons for wanting Celvapan. She has no egg allergies and her only reasoning was she is pregnant and wanted the adjuvant and thiomersal free vaccine. Her details were then passed on to the local flu service who gave her an appointment to have Celvapan next week with a second dose 3 weeks later. She was told she was only the second person to ring them up and request it! She recommends that anyone who wants Celvapan should ring up their PCT to ask for it and the number of their local flu service.

Your PCT telephone number can be found on the internet or from your GP surgery. Unfortunately I live in Wales and we don't have PCTs here. We have Local Health Boards (LHBs) and am not sure if we can do the same. I would expect some PCTs to be more easier going than others concerning this. If any of you do go down this route and ring your PCT/LHB up it would be useful to know for others which PCT/LHB area you live in and what their response was.

Good luck everyone x

thats so helpful. thank you for putting that up hun.xx worth a shot eh?

I am from wales too and didnt know any of that, all good to know, I am calling my surgery tomorrow as they called me while I was at the surgery with my son lol, ironically so gotta call them in the morning see what they rang me for lol. I am still debating over wether to get it done ir not, but I am thinking I am going to get it done anyway......

Thanks for this, very helpful xx

Thx for the info. I have now tried the course of action recommmended by contacting my PCT directly, and speak to the public health authority. Unfortunately, the Richmond and Twickenham PCT is not budging, and is saying stocks of Celvapan are reserved strickly for those with severe egg allergy. When I made the point that other PCTs are giving it out to pregnant woman on request, I was told that they shouldn't be because central guidlines are clear. Alternatively, Chelsea and Westminster PCT told me it was down to the discretion of individual PCT, but that at this stage they weren't giving it to pregnant woman, and in any case I would have to go through the PCT where my GP is based (Richmond). I will keep trying and let peple know if I have any luck. Has anyone else had any?

Hi, just tried calling the PCT for Brighton and they aren't budging either. Very disappointing. They were more interested in finding out which PCT in London was allowing this distrubution of Celvapan to pregnant women. Vaguely suggested searching overseas for the vaccination but I haven't a clue where to start!

Have contacted countless private GPs and none of them have been given a supply.

I spend 2 hours a day on public transport, my work will not allow me to work from home and so it seems since I've made the decision to turn down the Pandemrix vaccination ... I am left to put my own health in danger.

Seems ridiculous...

My doctor advised both are completely safe in pregnancy. I posted the swine flu and pregnancy leaflet on another swine flu thread which was very helpful.

Gave a breakdown of what each component is and where it comes from. The pandemrix is a faster acting vaccine and only requires one shot unlike the celvapan which requires 2 and has more inactive virus than the pandemrix (as pandemrix contains an adjuvant it has less inactive virus)

I would speak to your doctor before refusing the vaccine as mine thoroughly reassured me as well as my friend who has pandemrix giving birth to her gorgeous little girl niamh!

Good luck. x

I had the Pandemrix today (I'm 14 weeks + 2 days). I'm feeling fine. My arm isn't even very sore at the moment. I don't think there is any Celvapan in stock in my area yet and I didn't want to wait much longer. I also thought I would get really upset if my LHB refused my request for Celvapan.

As always it seems an unfair postcode lottery on whether your PCT or LHB will let you have the Celvapan. I don't know what PCT in London the lady who had Celvapan was from as she didn't specify. Someone else posted on the same thread that the PCT for Kent, Surrey and Sussex was refusing to give Celvapan to anyone without a severe egg allergy. Yet a lady in North Wales posted that she had spoken to a member of her Health Protection Team and been told that she can have either vaccine but supplies of Celvapan haven't come into that area yet.

Unfortunately Sweden was cheap and didnt get any vaccine not containing mercury.

Just found this new link from the Department of Health on another website. On page 3 it says all pregnant women should be offered Celvapan if that's the only vaccine they will accept.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/.../dh_108855.pdf