This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8368501.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
NI children to get swine flu jab NI children to get swine flu jab
(20 minutes later)
The swine flu vaccination programme is to be extended to younger children in Northern Ireland. The swine flu vaccination programme is to be extended to all children aged between six months and five-years-old 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 NI have died after contracting the virus.
Meanwhile, the department also said another two people from Northern Ireland have died after contracting the virus. This brings the total to 15. Both were said to have underlying health problems. This brings the total of deaths 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 the programme will be extended to older children in a further phase.
It is possible it will be extended to older children in a further phase. The vaccine to about 100,000 children will be administered by GPs.
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.
PriorityPriority
"(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." On Thursday, the minister also said there had been a positive response to vaccination from those people in the at risk groups.
He said: "So far almost 7,000 pregnant women, more than 2,100 children in special schools with severe learning disability and over 20,000 frontline health workers have been vaccinated."
BBC Northern Ireland health correspondent Marie Louise Connolly 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.