900,000 schoolchildren to receive swine flu vaccination

THE vaccination of over 900,000 school children, teachers and other education staff against swine flu will begin next week.

However, some pupils and staff will have to attend neighbouring schools or local HSE vaccination clinics as it will not be logistically possible to provide a vaccination programme in all 4,000 primary and second level schools.

A vaccination pack for the parents of every pupil will be sent by the HSE to schools, including a consent form which must be completed by the parents or guardians every child under the age of 16.