A nationwide vaccination programme for toddlers against the A(H1N1) flu virus started in the Netherlands on Monday.

 
The programme poses a major logistical challenge for the health authorities. Vaccinations will be given at 250 locations around the country, and more than a million people have been called up for a jab this week. The locations for vaccinations range from sports halls to exhibition centres.

830,000 children aged between six months and four years, and almost 200,000 parents or siblings of babies under six months are eligible for a jab. What's more, in three weeks the entire process has to be repeated, as a second injection is necessary to guarantee immunity.

The health authorities say so far the turnout for the jab has been high. There are long queues at some locations and extra staff had to be called in to deal with numbers. Hold-ups on the roads were expected and many local authorities have provided extra bus services. However, there have been no major traffic jams. In Amsterdam, many people used public transport to travel to the RAI exhibition centre, where the vaccinations are being given.

People in other high-risk groups, such as patients with respiratory or heart diseases, pregnant women and the elderly, will be called up for a jab at their GP’s surgery.

Confusion
The A(H1N1) flu virus, in the English-speaking world often called swine flu – despite having little to do with pigs – is commonly referred to as Mexican flu in the Netherlands. It was initially decided that it would be logical to name the flu after the country in which it emerged, following the example of Spanish flu or Asian flu. However, to add to the confusion, as elsewhere in the world the health authorities now officially call the disease ‘New Influenza A’.