Qld: Authorities urge residents to have swine flu vaccine

AAP General News (Australia)
04-23-2010
Qld: Authorities urge residents to have swine flu vaccine

BRISBANE, April 23 AAP - Queensland Health has rushed to assure people that the vaccine
for human swine flu is safe and effective, amid reports of severe reactions in children
given a flu vaccine in Western Australia.

Queensland chief health officer Jeannette Young said the adverse reactions in WA children
involved the seasonal flu vaccine and not the human swine flu vaccine.

"The commonwealth is advising all immunisation providers such as GPs not to administer
seasonal flu vaccine to children five years of age and under until further notice," Dr
Young said in a statement.

"However, that makes it more important for everyone, including children five and under,
to be vaccinated against human swine flu either at one of our free school clinics or with
their GP."

The federal government has made human swine flu vaccination free for everyone, while
seasonal flu vaccination is free only for those aged 65 and over, Aborigines and Torres
Strait Islanders aged 15 or more, pregnant women and people aged six months and older
with certain chronic conditions.

Dr Young said it was important that these people continue to be vaccinated against seasonal flu.

Children aged five years and under with chronic conditions should receive the human
swine flu vaccine.

AAP sls/pjo/jhp

KEYWORD: FLU QLD

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