With American president Barack Obama declaring the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, GPs across the Hunter are urging residents not to ignore the dangers of the virus in Australia.

“While the danger (for Hunter residents) seems to have passed, now is the time to protect ourselves with the swine flu vaccine for further potential outbreaks,” Hunter GP Access chief executive officer Dr Mark Foster said.

“With the US now experiencing an upsurge in swine flu cases it won’t take long for the virus to reach our shores.”

But Dr Foster said the Commonwealth was well prepared for the pandemic and had bought 21 million doses of the swine flu vaccine Panvax. The vaccine is now available through GPs.

“In speaking to our practices however, it is disappointing to report that many are saying that people are reluctant to get their swine flu vaccination because they are concerned about the safety of the vaccine,” Dr Foster said.

“It is important for people to know that the vaccine is safe and that the company which manufactures the vaccine is Australian-based and is using exactly the same safety procedures it has used to create the seasonal influenza vaccine for the last 40 years.”

Dr Foster said GPs had been administering the vaccine for almost a month with no reports of any problems.

“The swine flu vaccine will give very good protection as we approach the next flu season but the Fluvax (to be available next year) will act as a ‘top-up’ to provide excellent protection going into the normal flu season. In other words, we cannot just rely on next year’s seasonal flu vaccine to provide full protection,” he said.

The swine flu vaccine is available to anyone over ten years of age. Anyone of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, pregnant or suffering from a chronic medical condition should be vaccinated immediately.

Symptoms of swine flu include fever, cough, tiredness, muscle aches, sore throat, chills, shortness of breath, runny nose and headache.