Bury’s Director of Public Health, Dr Peter Elton, has welcomed the news that all children will be vaccinated against flu from 2014.

He said; "I am delighted that the flu immunisation programme will be extended to those who are most likely to get flu.  This will help to protect the children and stop them spreading the flu virus to those at high-risk of being hospitalised or even dying from the flu.  We know that Bury schools are keen to co-operate with such a programme.  We look forward to implementing this new approach."

This follows the news that the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will today accept recommendations from UK immunisation experts to extend the flu vaccination programme to all children.
 
The UK Government is already recognised to have one of the world’s most comprehensive vaccination programmes and under the new plans will go even further – the UK will become the first country to offer a comprehensive programme to extend the flu vaccine to all children, free of charge.

Notes

Dr Elton is available to discuss the plans with the press and media via 0161 253 6762.

For further information about the national plans, contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5281