1. PRESS RELEASE
Date: October 5 2009
Health chiefs issue warning about bogus swine flu letters
Health chiefs in Warwickshire are warning county residents to be on their
guard for anonymous letters that claim vitamin supplements give immunity to
swine flu.
Individuals behind the anonymous letter campaign, headed “Don’t have the
Swine Flu Vaccine”, make a series of bogus claims in the letter.
Kenilworth is one area where poor quality photocopies of the letter have been
known to have been posted through household letterboxes.
NHS Warwickshire today urged residents not to be taken in by the hoaxer,
who urges potentially vulnerable people not to have the swine flu vaccine.
Helen King, Deputy Director of Public Health and Swine Flu Lead at NHS
Warwickshire, said: “It makes me angry to read the kind of nonsense this
person is writing – especially as the letter is anonymous. What is particularly
concerning is the claim that you can get immunity through vitamins. If this was
true we would have got rid of all types of flu years ago.
“Swine flu is a serious issue and we would urge people in priority groups to
get the jab when it becomes available and not be misled by anyone with a
misplaced motive.”
Priority groups include high-risk individuals and front-line NHS staff as well as
anyone aged between six months and 65 years who usually gets the seasonal
flu jab because of a chronic illness such as asthma.

2. Pregnant women, and people who live with those whose immune systems are
compromised, such as cancer patients or people with HIV/AIDS are also on
the priority list.
Immunisation will be offered next to people aged 65 and over who are at high-
risk of complications because of an underlying illness.
** Ends **
For further information:
Jonathan Sharp
Communications
NHS Warwickshire
Tel: 01926 493491 ext: 486