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Scotland?s leading authority on infectious illness has warned that swine flu vaccination programmes targeted at the elderly are leaving the young at risk of contracting the deadly disease.
Sir Hugh Pennington?s warning comes after an 18-year-old died of swine flu in Dundee only three days after he was diagnosed with the illness.
Last week, 16 people died after contracting the H1N1 virus ? the worst death toll recorded since the disease hit Scotland. During the H1N1 pandemic, a maximum of eight Scots died a week.
Sir Hugh, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said vaccinations were focusing on the elderly and other vulnerable groups, such as those with chronic illnesses and pregnant women, rather than younger people.
However, many elderly people already have immunity to the disease after catching it earlier in their life.
He said: ?Fit, healthy young people can be killed by the virus in very short order. Normally, the elderly are hit hardest by flu but they are, by and large, escaping.
?The vaccine has been going to them, but we need more work to target other high-risk groups, which include pregnant women.?
Sir Hugh Pennington?s warning comes after an 18-year-old died of swine flu in Dundee only three days after he was diagnosed with the illness.
Last week, 16 people died after contracting the H1N1 virus ? the worst death toll recorded since the disease hit Scotland. During the H1N1 pandemic, a maximum of eight Scots died a week.
Sir Hugh, emeritus professor of bacteriology at Aberdeen University, said vaccinations were focusing on the elderly and other vulnerable groups, such as those with chronic illnesses and pregnant women, rather than younger people.
However, many elderly people already have immunity to the disease after catching it earlier in their life.
He said: ?Fit, healthy young people can be killed by the virus in very short order. Normally, the elderly are hit hardest by flu but they are, by and large, escaping.
?The vaccine has been going to them, but we need more work to target other high-risk groups, which include pregnant women.?
