It has been revealed that vaccine makers have begun squeezing out the first drops of the new H1N1 flu vaccine and rushing them to several sites worldwide for tests of safety and effectiveness in people.

Around 400 people have volunteered to get the experimental injections and were told about what sort of side effects they could expect.

The best way for the public to get the vaccine efficiently is to increase the usual distribution system, adding extra volunteer doctors and nurses to give shot in clinics and schools.

Though the H1N1 vaccine will be free, people with health insurance will have to pay a small administrate fee that their insurer will pick up.

Dr. Fleming, a director of public health said that immunisation will be voluntary but recommended: "The ultimate decision whether or not someone receives it or not is theirs. Or, in the case of a child, the decision is the parent’s," he said.

Many agree with the testing period, including Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is sponsoring the trial.

He said: "Vaccine is a huge component of the public health response to influenza.

Fleming says what keeps him up at night is the unpredictable nature of the virus, in terms of severity. He's also thinking a lot about timing and wondering when the next wave will hit.

"I think it's likely that H1N1 will arrive from the Southern Hemisphere before October maybe as early as September when school starts back up," he stated.

That means many other spots could have at least two months when pandemic flu will be freely circulating before there's vaccine to check it. "We're trying to prepare for that,” Fleming commented.

Karla Payne, 54, who has already had her shots said: "I feel really lucky that I get to participate. I used to work in the public schools. So many students didn't have money for health care. When I saw in the paper that they would start using schools to vaccinate kids, I thought, gosh, this would be a good thing to do, because they need to get vaccine out there."

Health Insurance may not help

Those who do not take the shots and do fall ill due to swine flu, may have an even nastier surprise when it comes to their health insurance.

Brits with health cover looking to receive treatment from their provider may well be disappointed. A representative from an insurer said: "We don’t cover emergencies. Treatment would be down to the NHS."

However, she added members would be able to speak to an advisor on the phone if they were worried about the virus.

While general health insurance will not cover you for the costs of medical treatment due to swine flu, other types of insurance may be able to help.

Life insurance will pay out if the worst really does happen, but income protection plans will probably not, given anyone not working because of the illness should be eventually able to go back to work.

People who are self-employed seem most at risk, with their businesses dependent on them being able to work.

Therefore, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) advises companies to prepare for the effects of a major outbreak so staff can work from home if necessary.