Big Medicine

London--Children aged between six months and five years old are to be offered the swine flu vaccine. Children in this age group will be offered the vaccine once vaccination of the priority groups has been completed. Parents of children this age should wait to be contacted by their local GP.

Extending the vaccination programme to young children is supported by the panel of experts that provide advice on vaccination issues - the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Children under five years of age are more likely than other groups to be hospitalised if they become ill with swine flu.

Details of how the swine flu vaccine will be delivered to under-fives are still being worked out. However, children in this age group will not be offered the vaccine until GPs have completed the vaccination of priority groups.

Parents of children who are over six months and under five years should wait to be contacted by their local GP surgery.

Chief Medical Officer Liam Donaldson said: "Vaccination remains a personal choice, but I urge everyone who is offered the vaccine to accept it and protect themselves."

"While the risks of serious complications from flu may be small, the impact on those affected can be devastating."