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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NI children to get swine flu jab | NI children to get swine flu jab |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The swine flu vaccination programme is to be extended to younger children in Northern Ireland. | |
| The Department of Health has said it intends to begin rolling out the programme by mid-December. | The Department of Health has said it intends to begin rolling out the programme by mid-December. |
| More than 300,000 children will receive the vaccine, which will be administered by GPs. | |
| Meanwhile, the department also said another two people from Northern Ireland have died after contracting the virus. This brings the total to 15. | Meanwhile, the department also said another two people from Northern Ireland have died after contracting the virus. This brings the total to 15. |
| The next phase of the current vaccination will be for all children aged between six months to five-years-old. | |
| It is possible it will be extended to older children in a further phase. | |
| Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said young children seemed to be particularly susceptible to the virus. | Health Minister Michael McGimpsey said young children seemed to be particularly susceptible to the virus. |
| Priority | |
| "(They) also have the highest rate of hospitalisation even without any underlying health conditions," he said. | "(They) also have the highest rate of hospitalisation even without any underlying health conditions," he said. |
| "In line with normal arrangements for vaccinating this age group, parents should expect to receive a letter from their GP once the first priority groups have been vaccinated." | "In line with normal arrangements for vaccinating this age group, parents should expect to receive a letter from their GP once the first priority groups have been vaccinated." |
| The process of printing and delivering consent forms to parents and guardians is well under way. | The process of printing and delivering consent forms to parents and guardians is well under way. |
| Anyone who is under 16 will have to have these forms signed before they can be given the jab. | Anyone who is under 16 will have to have these forms signed before they can be given the jab. |
| Children over 16, by law, will be allowed to decide for themselves. | Children over 16, by law, will be allowed to decide for themselves. |
| BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent Marie Louise Connelly said: "According to a number of GPs contacted by the BBC, this is a positive move as a high number of patients are young children who through play can easily spread the infection to each other." | BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent Marie Louise Connelly said: "According to a number of GPs contacted by the BBC, this is a positive move as a high number of patients are young children who through play can easily spread the infection to each other." |
| Thirteen of the swine flu deaths occurred in Northern Ireland, while one person died in England and another in Spain. | Thirteen of the swine flu deaths occurred in Northern Ireland, while one person died in England and another in Spain. |