MERSEYSIDE health chiefs issued advice to parents worried about swine flu last night, as the known death toll reached 11 in the region.

Parents have expressed concern after the death of Birmingham three-year-old Lana Ameen, a perfectly healthy child not eligible for the vaccine.

But health bosses claimed expert advice categorically said only children with health problems should be vaccinated.

It comes as the Daily Post was made aware of an 11th swine flu death in the region.

Eleanor Carruthers, 68, from Wavertree, had been given the flu jab, but still died from the disease.

NHS North West also released the latest critical care figures for flu last night.

Officials said there were 35 confirmed and 15 suspected seriously ill flu cases in Cheshire and Merseyside hospitals on Wednesday.

The figure only provides a snapshot of serious cases.

A Liverpool PCT spokeswoman said: “The decision on who falls into ‘at risk’ groups is based on clinical advice from a national independent expert advisory committee – the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) – which advises the Department of Health on national vaccination policy. The advice from these experts is clear; the JCVI does not currently recommend that healthy children are routinely vaccinated against flu at present.

“If you are the parent of a child or baby under five who has flu symptoms you should phone your GP surgery for advice.

“Sometimes other illnesses appear like flu in small children – parents should always ring their GP if concerned. “