Dutch people who are eligible for a vaccination against the Mexican flu and also want it, will still get a flu shot twice.
Earlier this week it was announced that Chinese manufacturers have discovered that one vaccination against swine flu would be enough to protect an adult † These results have now been confirmed by American and Australian scientists, as in Australia 75 to 96 percent of adults were sufficiently protected after one vaccination.
According to virologist Ab Osterhaus, a different vaccine is used in the Netherlands and it is therefore necessary in the Netherlands to get the vaccine twice. He does say that there are indications that the vaccine used in the Netherlands also offers good protection after one shot, but that a second shot provides even better protection † He therefore advises the government to stick to two vaccinations.
People who fall into the medical risk groups and qualify for the three flu shots, about 4.5 million, can first get a flu shot in October get the common flu. This is followed by the two vaccinations against the Mexican flu, officially the A(H1N1) flu.
