SWINE flu vaccines will arrive at doctors' surgeries in the next few days as health bosses prepare for a winter resurgence of the bug.

As reported, initial estimates for a "worst case scenario" resulting from a winter swine flu outbreak were placed between £2-million and £7-million.

However, following studies of the virus as it progresses around the world and in other parts of the country, it is now thought this upper limit will be much lower.

The director of public health for North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus, Dr Tony Hill, said: "Since then the Department of Health (DoH) have revised their planning assumptions downwards and the numbers expected to become ill and the death rate are both lower, this will reduce the total costs substantially.

"The DoH has also told us they will be making an additional allocation to help cover the costs of vaccination. We do not yet know how much this will be, but the CTP has set aside a contingency cost of up to £2-million and we think this will be sufficient."

Nevertheless, the NHS is preparing for what health bosses believe could be the worst winter in its history.

Hospitals and frontline health staff will be the first to receive the vaccine, with GPs surgeries expected to have stocks by Monday.

Others considered to be most at risk are: people aged six months to 65 years, who normally get the seasonal flu jab; certain pregnant women; household contacts of people with weak immune systems; people aged 65 and over, who normally get the seasonal flu jab (this does not include otherwise healthy over 65s).

However, it is thought some may be wary of receiving the vaccine and the health trust is battling a number of myths – even among health professionals – in encouraging people to get the jab.

See today's Grimsby Telegraph for an in-depth look at the swine flu jab issue.

Dr Hill will be discussing issue of the controversial swine flu vaccine in a special online debate on our website on Monday, October 26, from 12.30 to 1.30pm. Log on to www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk to take part and pose your questions to him.