The health authorities are insisting that the swine flu vaccine is safe and that taking the jab is highly recommended.
The only people who should not be vaccinated are those suffering from "very severe egg allergies" since, during the creation 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 said.
Those who had a confirmed case of swine flu could also choose not to be jabbed although taking the vaccine would do no harm, he said, adding that vaccination was an important step towards preventing swine flu from spreading.
"Although the vaccine is not compulsory for anyone, we insist that taking the vaccine is highly recommended... We must emphasise the safety of the vaccine," he said at the Floriana health centre yesterday where healthcare workers were being jabbed.
Over the past months, media across the globe reported ongoing fears of adverse effects caused by the vaccine ranging from miscarriages to heart attacks.
A few minutes before being vaccinated, Dr Busuttil stressed there was nothing to worry about. "Three to four months ago we too had our doubts but now we have the experience of 65 million doses across various countries. It has resulted that the vaccine does not have severe side effects that are any different to those of the normal seasonal flu vaccine," Dr Busuttil said, adding the vaccine was recommended by the World Health Organisation.
In the case of adults, the side effects were the usual 24-hour muscle and joint aches while children could get some fever.
The first 100,000 doses of the GlaxoSmithKline's H1N1 vaccine Pandremix arrived on Monday night.
The inoculation of vulnerable groups will take place between Saturday and January 10, when 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 card showing they suffered from a chronic illness. Those who did not have the yellow card could take a doctor's letter.
All vaccinations will be registered and logged.
Next week, the district clinics will be closed as manpower is needed in the health centres to cope with the vaccinations. Anyone requiring assistance can go to the health centres.
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.
Since the swine flu was identified in Malta last June, vulnerable people with flu-like symptoms have been treated with the antiviral drug Tamiflu. Four deaths have been registered due to the virus. The most recent case was 32-year-old Justin Chircop (see story below) who died from complications at the Intensive Care Unit of Mater Dei Hospital on Monday night.