The health service’s public health physician David Durrheim said now was the best time to protect against H1N1.

“Now there is an effective vaccine available for adults and children we encourage people to maximise immunisations as soon as possible,” Dr Durrheim said.

He said people should not wait because it took two weeks for the vaccine to take effect.

Babies and preschoolers are particularly in danger.

“We saw in the first wave that children, young children in particular, were well-represented in intensive care units,” Dr Durrheim said.

Other groups at particular risk are pregnant women, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders.

Dr Durrheim said the best way for families to become immunised was by making an appointment with their GP or Aboriginal medical service.

Hunter-based after hours health service GP Access has prepared practices across the region for an anticipated demand in swine flu vaccinations.

It has encouraged practices to order the vaccine to meet the increased demand, especially from children.

The vaccination program has been embraced by most practices in the Hunter area, with opportunistic vaccination making up the bulk of the activity, but the vaccination rate in the community is still below the 50 per cent required to make a significant impact on the next wave of the virus.

GP Access ran a swine flu vaccination clinic at Maitland Hospital on January 9 and 10.

A spokesperson said nearly 100 people were vaccinated during the clinics, including about 20 children.

Another vaccination clinic is a possibility in the future depending on feedback received from practices in the Maitland area about how they are coping with the demand for the vaccine.