Following a decision by the Council of Ministers,  the Department of Health and Social Security will initiate a programme of vaccinations against Swine Flu. 

Initially, the vaccinations against H1N1 will be offered to front line Health and Social Care Workers and those in the priority category.

These are: 1) Individuals aged from 6 months to 65 years in the current seasonal flu vaccine clinical at-risk groups; 2) All pregnant women, subject to licensing conditions on trimesters; 3) Household contacts of immune-compromised individuals; and 4) Individuals aged 65 years and older in the current at-risk groups.

The Isle of Man will take delivery of the vaccine stock within the next few days.  This will include vaccines manufactured by Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) and Baxter Healthcare. 

The GSK vaccine is a single dose vaccine and the majority of the vaccine stock will be the GSK product.

The Isle of Man will also obtain a supply of the Baxter vaccine which is a two dose vaccine; the Baxter vaccine will be reserved for pregnant women and those with an egg allergy.

Eddie Teare MHK, Minister of the Department of Health and Social Security, said, "After giving the issue very serious consideration, I and the Council of Ministers decided the Isle of Man should target front line Health and Social Care Workers and those in the priority groups for the vaccination.

"We will ensure that those who are in this group are provided with full information regarding the vaccine to enable them to make an informed choice."