The first batch of 125 000 H1N1 flu vaccines has been shipped to Greece and the Greek health ministry is ready to begin the inoculation process, the Greek Kathimerini reported on October 16 2009.

Authorities must first determine who are vulnerable groups and who will first receive the jab. In previous reports, the Greek health ministry said that priority groups were considered to be employees of the health services as well as young children and pregnant mothers.

Health minister Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou held a meeting on October 15 2009 with members of the National Flu Pandemic Council to assess a strategy for implementing vaccinations in the country, Kathimerini said.

Greek authorities have vowed that eventually there will be sufficient jabs for the entire population. To date, there are more than 2300 confirmed cases of the influenza.

A major problem the Greek government will have to tackle, however, is apathy regarding the entire operation. Nearly a third of Greeks have said that they will not bother to get their free jab, while 50 per cent remained unconvinced it was necessary.

No concrete information is yet available about when Bulgaria will receive the medication and start the inoculation programme here. For the moment, Bulgarians have to content themselves with a "report which analyses deadlines for delivery, the quantity of vaccines to be ordered and purchased by the Government and the strategic allocation of vaccines, in accordance with different risk groups".

Local health authorities have said that Bulgaria has expressed willingness to participate in the common strategic plan organised by the European Commission for the delivery and distribution of the H1N1 jab which, according to the Health Ministry, is scheduled to occur sometime in October 2009. The vaccine, once in the country, will be distributed to appropriate institutions and will be free, paid out of the state Budget.