Swine flu UK vaccinations: Children first

July 16 2009: All school children will be vaccinated against swine flu by Christmas, the Department of Health has said.

Children aged 3-16 have been put at the top of a draft priority list for the vaccinations, along with women who are more than 3 months pregnant, health care workers, people over 65 and people with underlying health problems - such as asthma, diabetes and heart problems. This list is only a draft at the moment, so it could change.

Still, no-one knows when the vaccinations will arrive in the UK. The government originally said they were expected in August, but the World Health Organisation has since said that they will not be ready that soon.

Official figures out today say as many as 1 in 8 people could have to take time off work in the next few months because of swine flu. Experts say that up to 100,000 people a day could be infected when swine flu reaches its peak.

Where to next?

- Have you got swine flu? How can you tell?
- Swine flu need to know guide - the latest news and all the facts
- July 15: Children will be vaccinated against swine flu first
- How to stop infections and viruses from spreading
- What is swine flu and what's a pandemic?

Sources: BBC, Daily MailSwine flu UK vaccinations: Children first