Jersey girl not forced to have swine flu vaccine

All children in the island have been offered the swine flu vaccine

A nine-year-old girl from Jersey, who was at the centre of a legal battle over the swine flu vaccination, will not be forced to have the jab.

Her father has dropped the case in the island's Royal Court.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was at the centre of a dispute between her parents about whether she should have the vaccine.

The couple, who never married, were together for 11 years before splitting up two years ago.

Vaccination target

The schoolgirl's mother had opted to take her out of the States of Jersey immunisation programme because of fears over the safety of the vaccine.

Her father objected and wanted his daughter to receive the injection.

Everyone in Jersey has been offered the jab for free.

Proceedings were brought in the family division of the Royal Court, but court officials have told the BBC the civil action has now been dropped.

Jersey's health department was aiming to have half the island's population vaccinated against the virus by Christmas.