The Department of Health (DH) is happy to announce that it has secured a small supply of seasonal flu vaccine today. The Public Health Directorate is working with GP’s to identify how best to use this small supply. The DH will continue to explore if further supplies can be obtained; however this is far from certain at present. Last week the DH released over 3,000 doses of the H1N1 flu vaccine, Pandemrix. This offers protection against H1N1 flu, which is the cause of most cases of serious infection and deaths in the UK. The vaccine is particularly useful in pregnant women since their added risk is confined to the H1N1 virus; the Pandemrix vaccine also offers protection to the newborn. Members of the public are again advised that if they do not belong to the ‘at risk’ groups, they should not get vaccinated at a time when we need to conserve the small supply of vaccine to protect those who are at greatest risk. - ENDS -