Which swine flu vaccine for the Germans?

Now there is not only the question of to be vaccinated or not against the swine flu but which vaccine to get if one could choose. News breaking over the weekend have Germany debating about the supposed two-class medical system. German politicians are in full damage control denying that they will receive a different and safer flu vaccine that the ordinary citizen. According to the German magazine Spiegel, it would appear that Chancellor Angela Merkel, several of her ministers and other government officials would receive a vaccine manufactured by the pharmaceutical company Baxter. This vaccine, named Celvapan, is a traditional vaccine containing no booster substances. The majority of Germans would be vaccinated with the Pandemrix vaccine, produced by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). And that is what has become the subject of controversy in Germany because it contains a “booster” substance known as an “adjuvant”. The additive critics say can increase the risk of side effects from the flu vaccine such as fevers and headaches. In an attempt to calm the situation, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman said she, if so advised by her doctor, would be vaccinated with Pandemrix. Some German politicians have joined the chancellor in opting out of the alternative vaccine. In all this many Germans, following a trend from the US are asking themselves whether a massive vaccination program is necessary in the first place.