Pharmaceutical company Novartis can deliver only half the planned quantity of A(H1N1) flu vaccine, Dutch Health Minister Ab Klink has said. He expects some 8 to 10 million shots to be ready by the end of October, rather than the 20 million planned for.

The group most at risk according to a list drawn up earlier will be vaccinated, but other groups may have to wait. People who get a flu jab every year will get the A(H1N1) vaccine as a matter of course, as will those aged over 60.

The Health Council recommended healthcare workers and people caring for weak patients to be vaccinated early as well, but it is now likely that they will have to wait a little longer.

Mr Klink expects Novartis to be able to supply the remaining vaccine in the coming months; the other supplier, GlaxoSmithKline, is delivering the vaccine according to plan. A total of 34 million units of vaccine have been ordered by the Netherlands government.

(Stock photo)