Reuters
Britain is to extend its seasonal flu vaccination program to all children, free of charge, becoming the first country in the world to do so, the Department of Health said on Wednesday.
Children will get AstraZeneca’s nasal spray vaccine rather than injections under the new scheme, which is expected to cost more than 100 million pounds ($155 million) a year and cover to up to 9 million children once it is fully established.
The roll-out is likely to take some time, however, since the drugmaker will not have the capacity to deliver enough new vaccine until 2014 at the earliest.
Health experts broadly welcomed the move but said it would be important to keep up constant monitoring of responses and work ahead of time to ensure the plan is accepted by the public.
Filed under: Big Brother/Police State, Health, Politics
Beware Britts bearing gifts.