Jab rehearsal to prepare for flu

Dr Richard Slack said it was an exercise enabling staff to be prepared

Emergency planners in the East Midlands have been testing their procedures in the event of a flu pandemic.

Bird flu has claimed 68 lives in the Far East, but so far it can only be contracted by being in contact with infected birds.

The preparations are in case, as is feared, the flu mutates into one where humans can infect other humans.

Dr Richard Slack, of the Health Protection Agency, said people should not be alarmed.

Volunteers from all over the country underwent pretend jabs in the day long event at the Harvey Haddon Centre in Bilborough on Tuesday.

It was based on national plans for mass vaccination procedures.

The exercise was led by Nottingham City Primary Care Trust (PCT), with the support of other local PCTs, the Health Protection Agency and other partner organisations.

It aimed to examine issues like the flow of people and how many tables would be needed.