Children signed up for swine flu tests (From Dorset Echo)

Children signed up for swine flu tests

7:00am Saturday 26th September 2009 in News By Melanie Vass

AROUND 100 children have already been found for a local trial of two new swine flu vaccines.

Scientists in Southampton are looking for children between six months and 12 years old to test two new vaccines.

Children are needed from across Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire, including Bournemouth, Poole and surrounding areas.

Within 24 hours of publicising the trials, around 100 parents had come forward and registered an interest.

Dr Saul Faust, senior lecturer in children’s infectious diseases at the University of Southampton, said most of these parents were aware that their child might otherwise face a long wait for a vaccine.

“Children under five particularly are at risk of bad swine flu and this is a chance to definitely get their child vaccinated,” he said. “We will not be using placebos. Every child will get one of the two vaccines.

“These two vaccines have been well tested in their bird flu version and have been tweaked. We know a lot about them.”

Possible side effects include sore arms or a fever but the child will be protected against swine flu.

And while the publicity surrounding the illness has died down in recent weeks, Dr Faust said he expected the outbreak to pick up pace now children are back at school.

“It’s definitely on its way back and we’re expecting the peak around mid-November or December,” he said.

Participants cannot be paid for taking part in the trials but will have their costs refunded.

“There’s no financial incentive,” said Dr Faust. “It’s protection against swine flu because you’ll definitely get the vaccine and it’s absolutely amazing how many parents will think to themselves that that, plus the benefits to the country, makes it worthwhile. People are not as self-centred as you might imagine.”

Parents interested in enrolling their child on this study should visit swineflutrial.org for more details.

For latest swine flu news and information visit bournemouthecho.co.uk/swine_flu