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The government has announced that children between the ages of six months and five will be the next group to receive a swine flu vaccination.

The Department of Health, which is working with the British Medical Association and NHS organisations to extend the vaccination programme, says the new group will be vaccinated as soon as doctors have completed the programme to offer the swine flu vaccine to priority groups.

These currently include people with underlying health conditions aged between six months and 65, household contacts of the immuno-compromised and pregnant women.

Frontline NHS workers have also been given the option of having the vaccine.

Royal College of GPs’ chair Professor Steve Field has urged parents to ensure their children get the vaccine as swine flu has been shown to affect young people worse than adults.

The highest GP consultation rates have been in the under-fives and children with swine flu are also more likely to be admitted to a critical care unit.

Professor Field said: “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.”

However, the DH has not extended the programme to all school-age children, despite demands from the Conservatives to do so.

Shadow Health secretary Andrew Lansley welcomed the latest move for under-fives but added: “I believe that for children over five the government should offer it if parents request it.”

 

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