Health Ministry wants swine flu vaccine accessible to all

The Health Ministry wants to make the swine flu vaccine accessible to all citizens, including children over the age of three, free of charge. Health Minister Dana Jurásková is planning to put the proposal to the government and National Security Council on Monday. The vaccines would be available at vaccination centres around the country and everyone would be eligible to get the shot. Pregnant women and children would be encouraged to consult the matter with their doctors. The Czech health authorities have been left with large stocks of the vaccine after the vast majority of those eligible to get it refused the offer for fear of possible side-effects.