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H1N1 vaccination programme
19/11/2009
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today announced plans for the second phase of the H1N1 vaccination programme.
The Influenza H1N1 vaccination programme will be extended to offer all children between six months and five years old protection against the virus.
This means that approximately 260,000 children across Scotland will be vaccinated in the next phase of the programme.
It is expected children will be invited to attend their local GP practice to receive the vaccination, negotiations are underway at the moment.
The vaccination will start in December once the initial priority groups have been vaccinated.
This decision was made following independent scientific advice and is supported by epidemiological and further clinical evidence.
Ms Sturgeon said:
"We have started negotiations to deliver the vaccine through GP surgeries and, subject to further discussions with the Scottish General Practitioners Committee, young children will be offered vaccination after the completion of the vaccination of the priority groups. We anticipate this will happen during December, although completion of the vaccination of young children is not expected until mid January.
"Parents of young children should wait to be contacted to go to their GP surgery.
"The decision has been made in line with independent scientific advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). It is their advice which has guided us so far in all the decisions around the vaccination programme.
"Advice from the JCVI is that young children are more at risk of contracting the virus and the highest rate of hospitalisations has been in the under-five age group, so that is the key consideration. However, the vast majority of young children, in common with the rest of the population, have mild symptoms and they will recover relatively quickly, but we want to ensure that young children are fully protected against the virus."
Consideration is also being given to vaccinating carers of elderly or disabled people. This is to protect the welfare of those being cared for as they could be more at risk from suffering influenza complications. Decisions will be announced at a later date.
Anyone who is concerned about flu-like symptoms should continue to contact their GP for advice, or NHS 24 on 08454 24 24 24. Further information on the vaccine programme is available via the new Scottish Swine Flu Vaccination Helpline on 08000 28 28 16.