Swine flu vaccine starts this week

ABOUT six million people will receive invitations in the post this week to get the free jab against swine flu, as the public vaccination campaign gets underway.

The Assurance Maladie will be sending out vouchers on Thursday for those considered to be in high-risk groups, including health workers, pregnant women and people with underlying health problems.

The letter will encourage them to visit their nearest vaccination centre within 10 days, although it remains valid after this period. The vaccinations are not being done in doctors' surgeries or hospitals, but in specially set-up local centres at schools and other public buildings.

Each invitation has its own individual tracking code, meaning that those who use it will receive a second letter in the post when it is time to take the second dose of the jab, three weeks later.
France's 12 million schoolchildren will be next, with jabs for them starting on November 25 - although no date has been set for their teachers.

Parents will receive a questionnaire in the post in the coming weeks asking for their consent and for details of any other health problems.

Only a fifth of people in a recent survey said they were considering getting vaccinated against swine flu.

The poll of almost 1,000 people, commissioned by weekly magazine Marianne found that 8% would definitely get the jab, with another 13% saying they probably would.

According to public health watchdog l'Institut de Veille Sanitaire, eight people in France have died as a result of swine flu since last Monday, bringing the national total to 30.

The virus is spreading fastest in the north of the country, and especially in the Ile-de-France.