Swine Flu vaccination: NHS prepares next step

Children over six months and under five years will be offered vaccine

The swine flu vaccination programme will be extended to offer children over six months and under five protection against the virus.

Extending the vaccination programme to young children is supported by the panel of experts that provide advice on vaccination issues - the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Children under five years of age are more likely than other groups to be hospitalised if they become ill with swine flu. Young children also have high rates of admission to critical care and, sadly, there have been some deaths.

Vaccination of people in clinical risk groups is well under way, with more than seven million doses of vaccine already distributed. Vaccinating these groups remains a priority to protect those at greatest risk from swine flu.

We are working with the BMA and NHS organisations to agree the details of how vaccine will be delivered, so that young children can be offered the vaccine once GPs complete the vaccination of priority groups.
Parents of children who are over six months and under five years should wait to be contacted by their local surgery.

Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson, said:
“Our first priority is to ensure that people with clinical risk factors, and frontline health and social care staff are vaccinated.

“Protecting those most at risk from the disease will reduce the levels of serious illness, and deaths. That’s why we will shortly offer the vaccine to young children.

“Vaccination remains a personal choice, but I urge everyone who is offered the vaccine to accept it and protect themselves. While the risks of serious complications from ‘flu may be small, the impact on those affected can be devastating.”

Director of Immunisation, Professor David Salisbury, said:

“This is the first pandemic for which we’ve had a vaccine to protect people.

“Our phased approach to vaccine delivery is intended to focus on those most at risk and to use vaccine stocks responsibly.”

Professor Steve Field, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said:

“We shouldn’t underestimate swine flu – it is a nasty infection and its effects can be devastating. I know that some parents have concerns about immunisation but the swine flu vaccine is our most effective protection against the virus. This is obviously a personal choice but I would advise all parents whose children are offered the vaccine to take it up. If you are worried, please talk to your GP and get all the information so that you can make an informed choice.”

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