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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Leicestershire schools' flu vaccine contains gelatine | Leicestershire schools' flu vaccine contains gelatine |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A flu vaccination programme at schools in Leicestershire has attracted criticism after it was discovered the vaccine contains pork gelatine. | A flu vaccination programme at schools in Leicestershire has attracted criticism after it was discovered the vaccine contains pork gelatine. |
| Leicestershire and Rutland is part of a pilot by NHS England to offer the nasal flu vaccine Fluenz to 70,000 pupils in the region, aged four to 10. | |
| Many pupils cannot consume or use animal products for religious reasons, or because they are vegetarian. | |
| Health officials have apologised for not informing parents at the outset. | Health officials have apologised for not informing parents at the outset. |
| At one school attended by Muslim pupils, head teacher Chris Hassall said it showed a lack of "sensitivity". | |
| 'Need transparency' | 'Need transparency' |
| Mr Hassall, from Taylor Road School, Leicester, said: "Parents have a right to know what's in it. | Mr Hassall, from Taylor Road School, Leicester, said: "Parents have a right to know what's in it. |
| "Why can't we be transparent and open so that parents can make an informed choice." | "Why can't we be transparent and open so that parents can make an informed choice." |
| His sentiment was echoed by Suleman Nagdi, of The Federation of Muslim Organisations in Leicester. | His sentiment was echoed by Suleman Nagdi, of The Federation of Muslim Organisations in Leicester. |
| He said it was especially important for parents to have confidence in the system following the recent scare over pork in halal burgers at a Leicester school. | He said it was especially important for parents to have confidence in the system following the recent scare over pork in halal burgers at a Leicester school. |
| The region is part of a national pilot programme by NHS England to test the practicalities of giving the vaccine to a large number of children in a school setting. | The region is part of a national pilot programme by NHS England to test the practicalities of giving the vaccine to a large number of children in a school setting. |
| Dr Tim Davies, NHS England's consultant lead for immunisation in Leicestershire, said: "If we can learn to do things differently we will look at doing that. | Dr Tim Davies, NHS England's consultant lead for immunisation in Leicestershire, said: "If we can learn to do things differently we will look at doing that. |
| "Any immunisation programme has to be acceptable to the population it's being offered to." | "Any immunisation programme has to be acceptable to the population it's being offered to." |
| However, he added: "It depends on whose view you take as to whether [pork gelatine is] an acceptable or unacceptable ingredient of the vaccine." | However, he added: "It depends on whose view you take as to whether [pork gelatine is] an acceptable or unacceptable ingredient of the vaccine." |
| He said it was not practical for all ingredients to be listed. | He said it was not practical for all ingredients to be listed. |
| 'Best protein' | 'Best protein' |
| "Vaccines have a lot of products in them, in very small quantities - but I think we wouldn't normally expect to list those - otherwise it becomes a very long and complicated document," he said. | "Vaccines have a lot of products in them, in very small quantities - but I think we wouldn't normally expect to list those - otherwise it becomes a very long and complicated document," he said. |
| A spokesperson for the Vegetarian Society said: "The use of animal ingredients in medications is a serious concern for both vegetarians and those who avoid certain animal products for religious or cultural reasons. | |
| "This is a complex area with no overnight solutions, but the Vegetarian Society believes that everyone has a right to know what they are consuming." | |
| Luman Ali, from the Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "Pork is not allowed to be ingested at all - it's something Muslims feel extremely uncomfortable about." | |
| Asked about why the vaccine contained pork gelatine, Mr Davies said: "Fluenz is a live flu vaccine - the viruses need to be bound to something in order to make the vaccine work - the best thing to bind them to is a protein and the best protein to use is one that has been derived from gelatine. | Asked about why the vaccine contained pork gelatine, Mr Davies said: "Fluenz is a live flu vaccine - the viruses need to be bound to something in order to make the vaccine work - the best thing to bind them to is a protein and the best protein to use is one that has been derived from gelatine. |
| "At the moment Fluenz is the only vaccine available as a nasal spray - and the only live flu vaccine - it works better on children." | "At the moment Fluenz is the only vaccine available as a nasal spray - and the only live flu vaccine - it works better on children." |