The swine flu vaccination program is almost ready to start nationwide as the first children in Britain received their immunisations against the virus. Medics at 5 different sites in England are currently comparing vaccines from two different manufacturers in order to see which has fewer side effects and is most effective.

One of the vaccinations, GlaxoSmithKline’s Pandremix, has already received approval from the European regulators . The second, made by Baxter, is expected to be approved this week once the European Medicines Agency has finished considering it.

The government plans to recruit 1000 children over the next two weeks from the Oxford, Bristol, Southhampton, Exeter and London regions. They are seeking children aged between 6 months and 12 years.

Once the clinical trial is completed, there are plans for 11 million people considered most at risk from the swine flu virus to be offered the vaccination, and it will also be made available to over 2 million front-line health workers.

The head researcher on the trial, Professor Andrew Pollard of Oxford University, has described the trials as a ‘race against time’, as the flu season has already begun. Over the last week reported cases of the virus have doubled, an indication that the expected autumnal ‘second wave’ is already underway.