Swine Flu Vaccine Made Available To Children

The swine flu vaccination programme began in the UK in October 2009, with the highest-risk groups being offered the vaccine first.

They were:

Babies over 6 months - adults up to 65 years old in the seasonal flu vaccine 'at-risk' groups. Pregnant women. People who live with someone whose immune system is compromised (e.g people with cancer). And now, young children aged between 6 months and 5 years.

*Healthy people aged over 65 were not a priority group as they appeared to have some natural immunity to the swine flu virus.

Babies under 6 months were not vaccinated because the flu vaccines do not produce enough of an immune response in them to provide any sort of protection.

There was a lot of debate between parents as to whether or not their children should have the Swine Flu vaccine. To be honest, when I first heard the announcement on the radio that it was now being offered to young children I jumped at the idea and made the girls appointments asap.

A lot of people were worried about the vaccine's side effects, which we were told would mirror some symptoms of seasonal flu.. but side effects have varied from person to person.

Some parents say their child had a bit of a fever the evening of their jab, but that was soon rectified with a dose of Calpol.

While others claim their child became full-on ill. Fever, upset stomach, coughing and vomiting for days..but these cases have been few and far between.

Our girls had their jabs yesterday - and had no reaction to the vaccine whatsoever. Not even a fever. Nothing. And regardless of whether or not side effects had occured, I stand by my decision to have my girls recieve the vaccine. It puts my mind at rest to know that now they are protected.