By Fiona Macrae and Eleanor Harding
Last updated at 6:15 PM on 4th January 2011

Swine flu victim: Olivia Clee-Barnett, from Merseyside, died on Sunday

Swine flu victim: Olivia Clee-Barnett, 17, from Merseyside, died on Sunday

A teenage girl has become the latest victim of the swine flu outbreak.

Olivia Rae Clee-Barnett, 17, from Merseyside, died in the early hours of Sunday.

It comes as almost a quarter of intensive care beds in some hospitals are now being taken up by patients suffering the severe effects of flu.

Nearly 750 beds - 21 per cent of the total  of 3,600 - are being used to treat victims of the H1N1 virus, according to intensive care doctors.

There are fears millions of children could be left at the mercy of swine flu because pharmacies are refusing to vaccinate under-18s.

With doctors warning that the reopening of schools this week could trigger a 'children's epidemic' of the virus, parents have been trying to buy the jab privately for their children.

Since October, flu has killed 39, including 11 under-15s. 

Olivia, from Wallasey, Wirral, was the sixth person in Merseyside to lose her fight against the illness.

Shocked friends set up a Facebook page to remember the student, who attended Wallasey School's sixth form.

One wrote: 'She was drop dead gorgeous, she had friends, a family and a boyfriend who all love her very much.

'She was smart and extremely talented at singing, acting, dancing and creative writing. She was a brilliant friend.

'She'll be 17 forever now. She'll never grow old or get grey hairs or wrinkles. She'll always be beautiful. .

'We'll never forget you Livvy. You're one of a kind.'

The friend said Olivia was asthmatic and died of swine flu on Sunday at 2am.

Arrowe Park hospital, in Wirral, remains closed to visitors to halt the spread of swine flu.

The swine flu outbreak is predicted to 'explode' from today, when at least nine million pupils return to their desks after the Christmas holidays.

But while High Street pharmacies will administer the flu jab to adults – charging between 7.50 and 12 – company policies dictate that they cannot do so to children, even when parents are present.

However, the Department of Health insists there is nothing to stop pharmacies giving the vaccine to children.

Hard to come by: High Street pharmacies are refusing to give swine flu medication to children

Hard to come by: High Street pharmacies are refusing to give swine flu vaccinations to children

There is already a shortage of vaccine at some surgeries and changes in vaccination policy mean that many Britons aren't sure whether they still qualify for protection on the NHS.

For instance, healthy under-fives were able to receive free jabs last winter but are not entitled this year.

As a result, many parents are trying to obtain them privately – only to be turned away.

Boots refuses to vaccinate under-16s, while Sainsbury's and Tesco set the bar even higher, at 18.

Those caught out by the rule include Sue Franklin, 36, a mother of three who tried to buy the vaccine for her eldest children, Olivia, 12, and Amy, 15. Her six-year-old daughter Daisy has asthma and so qualified for a jab on the NHS.

Mrs Franklin, of Malmesbury, in Wiltshire, said: 'Everywhere I tried they said they would give me a jab, but not the girls.

'I'm not expecting a jab for free, because they are rightly rationed on the NHS to those who need it most. But why is it that anyone can walk in off the street or in a supermarket and pay a few quid and get a jab, but if they are a child they can't?'

Unfair treatment: Sue Franklin with daughters Daisy, six, and Olivia, 12

Unfair treatment: Sue Franklin with daughters Daisy, six, and Olivia, 12

'No one could tell me why children aren't allowed. The message from the Government is that people should protect themselves, but I'm not allowed to protect my family – it's a complete mess.

'All the doctors and the pharmacies I rang said they had had loads of calls like mine. Clearly there's something wrong somewhere.'

The Department of Health said those paying for a flu jab from a pharmacy were effectively going private, so the Government had no control over the situation.

A spokesman said: 'There are no restrictions on who pharmacies give vaccinations to in a private capacity. If they decide they don't want to do it, we cannot force them to do it. The vaccine sold at pharmacies is exactly the same as the one administered by the NHS.

'It is perfectly safe and given to children under the age of five. There is nothing to stop pharmacies from giving it to healthy children.'

Last night, Boots said: 'In accordance with our registration with the Care Quality Commission, Boots can only offer patients aged 16 years and above a private flu vaccination.'

As the number of fresh flu cases mounts, there are warnings the NHS is reaching crisis point.

Some 738 Britons are being treated for flu in intensive care and all 21 ExtraCorporeal Membrane Oxygenation heart and lung machines used to treat the most seriously ill patients are in use.

Even at the height of the swine flu pandemic in 2009 only 12 of the ECMO machines were ever in use at the same time.



 

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards.

The comments below have been moderated in advance.

veritygoodread, North East UK, Why are you raving on about Tamiflu? This story is not about Tamiflu, it is about the influenza vaccine.

I have just tried bupa, boots, tesco and the gp surgery for a swine flu vaccine and they are all out of it. What is going on?

a) the annual flu jab you get Katie won't protect you against the H1N1 virus. This will be from a separate flu jab. b) dont be ridiculous in thinking that giving children a healthy diet and an early night will be sufficient in enabling them to fight off a serious infection like H1N1 flu. Immunization works. Its eradicated several diseases and its essential.

As a nurse on a Critical Care unit I can only hope that my flu jab works as I certainly at risk of getting it. due to the number of patients we are looking after with flu.The thing about H1N1 patients is that they are young, generally fit -ok they may smoke, have Asthma , be pregnant or be a bit overweight -and were living a normal life until a few days ago. Then within a few hours they are on a ventilator, dialyis machine and hoping for an ECMO bed. New Age medicine and praying won't help, it's a long haul with all modern medicine can provide to have any chance of getting better.

I have asthma and recently booked an appointment to get a swine flu vacine at my GP. When I got there the nurse refused to give me the vacine as she said I "wasn't high risk enough". I was surprised as I have asthma so assumed I am the sort of person who should go get it but she wouldn't give it to me!

- Pam, Lancs, 4/1/2011 11:40 Pam, are you a Doctor? I really hope so, as you seem to feel that you are qualified to give out health advice. I hope that you have never had to sit in an intensive care unit, whilst a team of doctors and nurses tell you that they are not sure whether your (very otherwise healthy) mum will make it through the night because of flu. I have, only 2 weeks ago (and luckily she survived). However, I still wouldn't want to advise others on what to do. We should all look at the available information and make the decision that we feel is best for our families.

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