26 November 2009
Parents are being advised that children in nurseries and primary schools are being offered a booster vaccine to ensure their protection against swine flu throughout the winter season.
More than 85% of children had the swine flu vaccine earlier this month. As expected, the Health and Social Services Department is now offering the booster vaccine to children aged over 6 months and up to year 6 in primary school. The booster vaccine is given after an interval of at least three weeks after the first injection. The vaccine will be offered in primary schools on Tuesday 8 and Wednesday 9 December and in nurseries on Thursday 10 December.
Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Mark Jones, said:” We know young children are more at risk from swine flu and we expect children who have had the first dose of vaccine to be protected from the virus. However, we are offering this age group a booster vaccine to sustain this protection as long as possible. Older children do not need a second dose as their immune systems are more mature.
“We are using exactly the same vaccine (Baxter’s Celvapan) and dosage as children received in the first injection. No egg is used to make this vaccine so it is safe for children who have an egg allergy. I would strongly recommend parents consent to their child receiving this booster.
Information about the vaccine programme and consent forms are being sent to parents in all primary schools and nurseries next week.
Additional clinics will be held at a later date for pre-school age children who do not attend nursery and for children who received vaccination through a catch-up clinic.
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