Swine flu vaccines tested on children

Swine flu vaccinations have been given to 500 children in a trial to determine their effectiveness. The study involves 600 children aged six months to 12 years and began a week ago in Bristol, Oxford, Southampton, Exeter and London.

It will test the two vaccines due to be used in the UK this winter. Millions of doses of the vaccines have been bought by the Department of Health to control the expected outbreak this autumn, but information about their use in children is limited. Analysis of the research by the University of Bristol will determine which of the two vaccinations is more effective.

Children receive two doses, three weeks apart. Blood tests are performed before and after to check the response. Children are one of the age groups most vulnerable to swine flu infection.