In an article in the medical journal Medisch Contact, general practitioner Dr Jan Takken says that the needles used to immunise people against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) are blunt. 

According to Dr Takken, being injected is unpleasant and it feels as though the skin is being torn. The needles used to immunise people against A (H1N1) are different from those used to immunise people against seasonal influenza. The needle were specially developed in order to minimise risks and simplify the injection procedure.
 

The National Association of General Practitioners acknowledged that immunisation with this type of needle is more painful but it denied that the new needles were not sharp enough. A spokesperson said Dr Takken's comments were "a little blunt".