Health Minister, Trinidad Jiménez, announced today that she had pre-ordered 18 million doses of the vaccine against AH1N1 virus, which would protect approximately 40% of the population.
 
An agreement has been signed between Spain and two pharmaceutical laboratories to the effect that Spain will received the vaccine 'at the same time as the rest of Europe'.

The main pharmaceutical companies are currently experimenting with various versions of the vaccine and are working against the clock in an attempt o have it to ready in the Autumn, when a fresh outbreak of the 'flu is expected in Europe.

Based on recommendations from the World Health Organisation and an estimate of the proportion of the population considered to be 'at risk', the government has taken the decision to vaccinate 30% of the population, and provisionally reserve vaccines for a further 10%.

There are currently 760 confirmed cases of the 'flu here in Spain, but Jiménez warned that the virus had still not reached its full force in the country.  'The current weather conditions are preventing the virus from reaching its maximum intensity,' the minister said. 'We will have to wait until Autumn to see the true picture'.