While I am a firm believer in public health care, I am not a fan of Germany’s new two-tier policy when it comes to the Swine Flu vaccine. According to a recent Time Magazine article, the government is offering two Swine Flu vaccines: a new and improved vaccine for those working for the government and a “riskier” vaccine for the remainder of the population.

The Pandemrix vaccine being offered to the general population of Germany  can’t be used on pregnant women or children and has more side effects than the alternative Celvapan. Roughly 26,000 people have had the Swine Flu in Germany; however, there have been only three deaths. Germany is gearing up for more cases of the flu, but I have two questions.

Why offer the “elite” or “government officials” a different vaccine than the general population in the first place and if there have been so few deaths (with minimal symptoms of most of the infected), is it really necessary to immunize the population at large?

In answer to the first question, the government says it ordered the Celvapan before it knew of the differences between the two immunizations and that it was obligated by contract. As for the second, I am not really sure.
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1932366,00.html