Mass flu vaccinations proposed

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Plans for the largest mass immunisation in the UK since the 1964 action against smallpox, are being discussed by ministers.

All 8.5 million pupils in Britain would be immunised against swine flu, as school nurses, health volunteers and GPs visit schools to deliver the injections.

One Whitehall source said: "The general principle of schools being the ideal, logical place to do this is well established. They have captive audiences."

The plans would be part of the government's efforts to manage the expected second wave of the flu virus in September, when children return to school after the summer break.

High demand of the vaccine is expected once it has been declared safe, with parental approval necessary.

But concerns have been raised as to whether there will be enough health professionals available to administer the injections, with only 1,447 school nurses nationally.

The news follows the announcement from the World Health Organisation that vaccinations will not be available until September, after passing through clinical testing.

According to figures released by the Health Protection Agency, estimated new cases of swine flu last week were 30,000 compared with 110,000 the week before.

Chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said the figures had shown the pandemic had now passed its peak in England.

But he warned against complacency, adding that he was "pretty certain" of second wave of the flu virus in the autumn.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "We have not said that schools will deliver the vaccination programme for swine flu.

"Decisions have not been made on how the vaccine programme will be delivered, and the chief medical officer has said that he expects GPs to be the bedrock of the programme."

And it was suggested that the priority group of under-fives will be immunised at GPs surgeries.