Practitioners may be first in line for flu jab

Optometrists and dispensing opticians could be among the frontline healthcare workers who will receive the first batch of the swine flu vaccination.

A Department of Health spokesperson told Optician that the Department was still finalising which healthcare workers would receive the vaccination that it anticipates will be available by the early autumn, possibly in September.

According to the spokesperson 60 million doses of the vaccines should be ready by the end of the year. Optician understands that each person will require two doses unless one jab is discovered to provide high rates of immunity.

Health secretary Andy Burnham claimed: 'We have been working closely with the Royal Colleges and staff bodies to protect and prepare frontline health workers, who are at the heart of our response to this outbreak, while providing the best healthcare possible to patients.'