Manx health staff get flu vaccine

Pregnant women are among those who will be offered the vaccine

The Isle of Man's swine flu vaccination programme is under way, health officials have said.

Frontline health and social care staff were among the first to be vaccinated on Monday.

Other at risk groups, such as pregnant women and people with underlying health problems, will also receive the vaccine as a priority.

It has yet to be decided when the rest of the Manx population will be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus.

Dr Parameswaran Kishore, director of public health, said: "As you can imagine with something like the H1N1 vaccine there is not plenty of it around - there is a shortage.

"Essentially, we need to give it to people who are likely to receive maximum benefit.

"Then, once we have covered that then we will review how the situation emerges, in case the virus changes for instance.

"That will make us look at the whole issue again."