The first people to receive the vaccine against the (A)H1N1 virus will be people at risk such as the elderly, the pregnant, medical staff and people planning to go on the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in mid-November.

To counter fears of side effects from the vaccine, media showed several senior officials receiving their injections on Monday.

The vaccine will be offered free to Omani citizens and expatriate workers.

Ahmad ben Mohammad Al Saidi, the deputy health minister, told AFP that Oman is aiming to vaccinate all candidates for the hajj as the Saudi authorities are demanding that all pilgrims be immunised against swine flu.