£5.25 for each swine flu vaccination

The government will pay GPs £5.25 every time they vaccinate a patient against the swine flu virus, it was announced today.

Under the new deal, 14 million people considered to be the most at risk will be advised to visit their GP to receive the jab.

The vaccine, two doses of which will be necessary, is yet to be validated but could be as early as October.

Health secretary Andy Burnham, whose department will fund the £5.25 individual payment, said the arrangement was “great news for patients”.

“The vaccine is the best line of defence against this virus and I would strongly urge all of those in the at-risk groups, as well as frontline health and social care workers to have the vaccine,” he said.

Those with existing health problems and pregnant women are among those being advised to receive the vaccine at first.