With the spurt in swine flu seen this year, the union health minister recommended vaccination for healthcare workers for the three prevalent virus strains, including H1N1.

Experts, including doctors and scientist in India council of medical research (ICMR), say vaccination is still not recommended for the general public, barring special group such as children under the age grp of five, elderly and immunocompromised patients, besides healthcare workers who are handling patients.

ICMR Dr V M katoch told newsline that there is no change in the vaccination policy compared to the 2009 outbreak when H1N1 first surfaced in india.

We have not issued any new guidlines for vavination. The influenza vaccine, Which is trivalent in nature, gives protection not against H3N2 and influenza B - the three vaccines prevalent this year.

He said the vaccines takes at least two weeks to develop immunity and provides about 60-80 per cent protection for about a year.

Asked why the government had taken step to procure vaccines for the first time since 2009 and if there was any change in guidlines, Dr katoch said, This is probably because of the spurt in cases this year. Because of that we, and other agencies who had not been as alert in the last few years, have became more alert.

The vaccine available in trivalent and pentavalent is manufactured by four or fives companies and costs between Rs 300 and Rs 500.

According to doctors, vaccinaton is still only recommended for four or five group of people. These include children between the age of six months and five years, persons over 50-60 years, pregnant women, people who have comorbid condition or those with existing disease such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, immunocompromised patients, including those who have autoimmune disease or cancer patients, and healthcare workers who are involved in managing patients.