The Chief Medical Officer for England is urging all swine flu priority groups to take up the offer of vaccination against the virus.
A mass immunisation programme against swine flu began today with NHS hospitals vaccinating frontline healthcare workers, and patients who fall into ‘at risk’ categories.
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The vaccination programme will be rolled out around the country over the next few weeks with GP surgeries receiving deliveries from Monday. GPs will contact patients if they fall into one of the at-risk categories, the Department of Health said.
The department added that at-risk groups will be given priority in the following order:
- People aged over six months and under 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
- All pregnant women
- Household contacts of people with compromised immune systems
- People aged 65 and over, in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups
The Department of Health said this did not include over-65s that are otherwise healthy, since they already seem to have some natural immunity to the virus.
During PMQ’s on Wednesday the Prime Minister said:
“For both those who are at risk and health service workers we are starting the process of vaccination immediately… We have been ahead of the world in purchasing the vaccines that are necessary and in making sure that those people who need treatment with antivirals have it available at the earliest opportunity.”
The Government estimates that around two million frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine. More than 11 million people in England will be offered it in first instance in priority groups.