Minister of health Dr. Hatem Al-Gabali said after he was vaccinated against the swine flu Monday2/11/2009 at Nasser Institute that the vaccine was safe.

He said pilgrims would be vaccinated free of charge at health centers. He said Egypt has so far received 150,000 doses adding priority would be given to pilgrims, police, telephones and public transport staff. He said the vaccine has the same side effects of the seasonal flu vaccine according to the world health organization.

He said Egypt has contracted the purchase of 5 million doses adding 1,200,000 doses would arrive next January. He said the Egyptian pilgrimage medical mission will be supplied with medicines including tamiflu.

At the same context, Forty-five swine flu, cases have been detected in Egypt, bringing to 1,332 the total infections.

The new cases include 29 school students, said the health ministry spokesman Abdel-Rahman Shahin.

The students are from Cairo, Qalyoubia, Helwan, Giza, Gharbia, Menoufyia and Alexandria, said the spokesman.

Three university students in Ismailia, Cairo and Alexandria also tested positive for the virus, he said.

Out of the total infections, 1,259 have so far recovered, added the spokesman.