Babies under six months won’t get swine flu vaccine

THE Government has indemnified the manufacturers of the swine flu vaccine from any liability for side effects as it emerged that babies under the age of six months will not be given the jab.

The first 30,000 batches of the swine flu vaccine will arrive here next week.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) said the decision not to vaccinate infants under six months was because they “still had a natural immunity”. However a baby’s natural immunity is not guaranteed beyond two/three months unless the mother is breastfeeding. The HSE has already confirmed babies are among those who have caught swine flu.