About 750 healthcare workers have taken the swine flu vaccine after the first 100,000 doses arrived in Malta on Monday night.
"We are quite happy with the way the process is moving. A major fact we thought might hinder the process is the festive season because most people are on leave. However, we are noticing a rapid vaccination process," a spokesman for the Parliamentary Secretariat for the Elderly and Community Care said.
Health workers started being jabbed on Tuesday and the inoculation of pregnant women and chronic patients, over six months old, will take place between tomorrow and January 10.
Chronic patients eligible for vaccination during this period include sufferers of chronic heart, liver, lung and kidney diseases as well as people suffering from neurological or neuromuscular diseases, diabetes or problems affecting their immune system, including HIV and Aids.
Housebound people will be vaccinated at home by visiting nurses and those who are hospitalised or in an institution will be inoculated there.
The next consignment of the vaccine is expected to arrive towards the beginning of March. This will cover the rest of the population, including children between six months and nine years of age and those over 60, both of whom would probably need two doses about four weeks apart.
The health authorities are insisting that the swine flu vaccine is safe and that taking the jab is highly recommended even though it is not compulsory.
The only people who should not be vaccinated are those suffering from "very severe egg allergies" because during the development of the vaccine the virus was reproduced in egg yolk and there could be very small traces of egg in the jab, healthcare director general Ray Busuttil explained.
Those who have had a confirmed case of swine flu may choose not to take the vaccine. However, taking the jab would do no harm.
Pregnant women and chronic patients can visit their local health centre that will be open between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m. every day. In Gozo, vaccinations will take place at the General Hospital.
People have to produce their identity card and their yellow (schedule V) card showing they suffered from a chronic illness. Those who did not have the yellow card could take a doctor's letter. Children should be accompanied by adults and the vaccination record should be produced.
Further information can be obtained by contacting one's family doctor or calling the helpline 2132 4086.