London, July 12 (ANI): Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) is reportedly preparing to vaccinate the country’s entire population against swine flu.

According to The Telegraph, about 20 million people could be inoculated before the end of 2009.

The decision, taken at the highest government level, comes after an Essex man was confirmed on Friday as the first person without underlying health problems to have died from the virus.

A new vaccine could be ready in just five days.

Ministers have secured up to 90 million doses of the vaccine, which is expected to arrive in Britain in the next few weeks, and the rest of the population is likely to be offered vaccinations next year.

The UK government has ordered enough vaccine to cover the entire population. GPs are being told to prepare for a nationwide vaccination campaign.

Peter Holden, the British Medical Association’s lead negotiator on swine flu, said GPs’ surgeries were ready for one of the biggest vaccination campaigns in almost 50 years.

The health department said a vaccination programme would be drawn up based on expert advice. (ANI)