FRONTLINE healthcare workers and their patients who fall into at risk categories can be vaccinated against swine flu from today.

The vaccination programme, announced by the Department of Health, will be rolled out over the next few weeks with GP surgeries receiving deliveries from Monday (October 26) and vaccinations will be available in NHS hospitals in Worcestershire.

Around two million frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine. This group is at increased risk of infection and of transmitting that infection to susceptible patients. Protecting these people will help the NHS workforce to remain resilient and able to treat sick patients.

The following at risk groups will be prioritised, in order, people aged over six months and under 65 years in current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups, all pregnant women, household contacts of people with compromised immune systems such as people in regular close contact with patients on treatment for cancer and people aged 65 and over in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at risk groups.

Patients will be contacted by their GPs if they fall into one of the at risk categories.