Fatal to delay flu jabs; your letters.

Byline: FIONA PARKER

THE soaring number of deaths from swine flu is a sure sign that the virus is becoming even stronger.

So the Government's proposal to roll out vaccination nationwide must be welcomed.

But we've known about this virus for some time so why has it taken until now for the authorities to act? More than a dozen people have already died in the UK and we could face a major pandemic in the autumn.

The NHS must take swift action before there are any more deaths.

John Benson Bournemouth, Dorset

GOVERNMENT policy on swine flu, as on so much else, aims to maintain public confidence and satisfy us something is being done.

Now we are moving on from the containment phase to the treatment phase. But having a densely-packed yet mobile population, which has caused the rapid spread, calls for a radical response.

If the Government fails to implement its vaccination plan quickly enough, the result could be dire.

John Riseley, Harrogate, N Yorks

IT is alarming that the UK has one of the highest number of cases after the US and Mexico but little can be done to prevent the virus spreading.

You can't stop people going to work, going on holiday and using public transport. We just have to wait until the epidemic passes.

J Oliphant, S London SURELY a major factor in the spread of swine flu is that people are too scared to take time off work when they are ill.

The Government should demand that employers allow staff who think they may have the virus to take two weeks off sick.

Brenda Hewitt, Blackpool, Lancs

I HOPE Coleen Nolan's son Jake makes a speedy recovery from the virus (Daily Mirror, July 10). As a mum myself, I find the growing number of cases very worrying - particularly for the elderly and vulnerable who are most at risk.

Karen Smith, Southport, Merseyside I'M not overly worried about the swine flu outbreak.

I am, however, concerned by the serious underlying epidemic of TB it appears to be revealing in this country and which the health authorities seem reluctant to acknowledge.

Alan Jones Stockport, Gtr Manchester WHY don't we have swine flu parties? That way, if the flu does return in the winter, we will have built up immunity.

Linda Owen Liverpool

The BIG issue

SWINE flu has killed more than a dozen people in the UK, including at least one victim with no other obvious health problems. Nearly 10,000 Britons have caught the virus and the Government plans to vaccinate the entire population by next year...