SWINE FLU vaccines for children could hit Kirklees within weeks, health chiefs said today.
Parents of children aged six months to five years will shortly be receiving letters from their GPs, according to Dr Judith Hooper, director of public health at NHS Kirklees.
She welcomed the move, announced by the Government’s chief medical officer earlier this week.
Dr Hooper said: “While it will take another couple of weeks to complete our vaccination programme of those in the high risk groups, it’s great news that in Kirklees we will soon be able to offer the vaccine to children aged between six months and five years of age.
“There have been concerns raised about the safety of the swine flu vaccine in the media recently and I want to reassure local residents that it is safe and the best way that people can protect themselves and their families against potential complications resulting from swine flu.
“I continue to urge everyone who is in the high risk groups that they should take up the offer of swine flu vaccination at the earliest opportunity.
“I am especially concerned that pregnant women in the area may have been put off by scare stories, but continue to advise that the swine flu vaccines are safe and have been thoroughly tested.”
