The first Australian trial of vaccine for A/H1N1 flu began on children in Sydney on Monday.

About 400 healthy children will be recruited from across the nation for the trial, including 100 of them from New South Wales (NSW).

The results from the trial should be known by September with the vaccine ready for distribution by October.

"The vaccine is similar to the one used to prevent seasonal flu, except the strain has been updated to the A/H1N1 virus-causing flu," NSW Health Minister John Della Bosca told reporters at Westmead Hospital.

A trial on adults has already begun. The children's one will test the appropriate dosage and safety of the vaccine.

Since the pandemic began in NSW, almost 1,000 confirmed A/H1N1 flu cases have been admitted to hospital, with 30 deaths recorded in the state.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2009)