Schoolchildren to start getting swine flu vaccinations next week

SCHOOLCHILDREN ARE expected to start receiving swine flu vaccinations next week, the Health Service Executive has said.

More than 800,000 students aged between five and 18 years will be invited to receive the vaccinations in special clinics to be set up in some schools across the country in the coming days.

Some students will be invited to neighbouring schools to receive the vaccine, while others will be asked to attend their local HSE vaccination clinic.

School staff will also be vaccinated as part of this phase of the national vaccination programme against swine flu, which the HSE hopes can be completed by early next year.

The HSE said it was in the process of identifying schools that would be suitable for use as vaccination clinics and that further details would emerge today.

The Department of Education wrote to all primary and secondary schools in the country yesterday advising them of the arrangements.

In the letter, the department said a HSE vaccination pack would be provided for distribution to each student and that a consent form would need to be signed by the parents of children aged under 16.

Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe has urged schools to continue their co-operation with the HSE.

“I want to thank principals, teachers, school staff and managers for the conscientious and thorough way in which they have co-operated with the public health authorities in averting the spread of the virus,” he said.