Second Phase Of Swine Flu Vaccination Program Announced

This move follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) and is expected to begin as soon as all the priority groups have received their vaccine around mid-December.

The Committee has also advised that main carers for elderly or disabled people, whose welfare may be at risk if their carer falls ill, should also be encouraged to take up the vaccination.

Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey said: "The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has advised the four UK health ministers that the next phase of the vaccination program should be focused on children from six months to five years.

This is because this age group appears to be at greatest risk of serious illness from swine flu. These very young children also have the highest rate of hospitalisation even without any underlying health conditions.

"In line with normal arrangements for vaccinating this age group, parents should expect to receive a letter from their GP once the first priority groups have been vaccinated.

"The JCVI has also advised that the main carers for elderly or disabled people whose welfare may be at risk if their carer falls ill, should be encouraged to take up the vaccine once all the priority groups have been vaccinated. We will discuss this advice with carer's organisations."

Turning to the numbers of people who have been vaccinated to date, the Minister said there had been a positive response from those people in the at risk groups.

He said: "So far almost 7,000 pregnant women, more than 2,100 children in special schools with severe learning disability and over 20,000 frontline health workers have been vaccinated. This is very encouraging and I welcome the fact that so many people have taken the vaccine, particularly those who are at increased risk from the complications of swine flu.

"While the latest figures show that levels of flu-like illness are decreasing, we must not become complacent. It is impossible to predict how the swine flu virus will evolve, nor if there will be further waves next year. Vaccination remains the best way to protect the public. Protect yourself, protect those at risk and get the vaccine."