It's the end of a rather eventful month when we have seen the first rush of flu but fortunately few signs of panic. News today was that the number of new cases seems to be slowing down - which is not surprising as the schools have been closing down for the summer break and that will disrupt the chain of spread of any infection. I still think children should be taught in rows again ( as I was!) so they only cough into the back of the head of other children rather than face-on across a table - but call me old fashioned . . .

I've just put away the paperwork on this vaccination campaign I have running this month for patients in the risk group who had not had a vaccination against pneumococcus. This is a bug which complicates respiratory infections such as influenza and which is often the cause of death or illness following flu. Vaccination against pneumococcus is available now and is the least I can do to try and help people at risk of flu. The Swine Flu vaccine itself is likely to be a couple of months away so there is not much else we can do at the moment! If you are over 65 (or nearly there) or you have heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, or perhaps you have had a problem with cancer or immunity problems, then DO ask your doctor's surgery about having a pneumococcal vaccine. This lasts for up to ten years and all children are now being vaccinated as part of the routine baby immunisation schedule.

I am now planning to leave the UK on a holiday and will try and continue the blog from around Europe looking at what other countries are up to. Rest assured I will take the rainclouds with me, I always do!