Germany plans to order 50 million swine flu vaccination units

Note: Germany — Population: 82,369,552

Germany's 16 state health ministers on Tuesday agreed on a plan to order some 50 million units of flu vaccine units. That's enough to immunize 25 million people against the H1N1 swine flu - a person has to be injected twice in order for the vaccine to be effective. Together with current vaccine supplies against the H1N1 virus, the health ministers say they will have enough vaccines to provide protection for 30 percent of the German population.

The ministers will next develop a coordinated plan of action. This includes drawing up a priority list of those eligible to receive H1N1 flu vaccine shots and making sure that insurance companies pay for the flu shots. Health workers, the aged, pregnant and chronically ill people are expected to be immunized first.

Infection surge just months away

"We need to be ready for an expected increase in the rate of infections in autumn and winter," said Juergen Banzer, the health minister for the state of Hesse.

The health ministers said they would also seek expert opinion before making any final decisios, but added they would follow recommendations made by the World Health Organisation.


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