A second wave of pandemic is expected, judging from figures last week, which showed Swine flu consultations by GPs increased by 45%.

This continued steady rise in cases suggests the pandemic remains in the early stages of a second wave, England's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said.

The figures show that consultations for influenza-like illness per 100,000 of population rose from 17.3 last week to 25.

Sir Liam added that 'if everything goes to plan' the vaccination programme would start in the latter half of October.

However, the exact date would depend on when manufacturers could deliver supplies, he said.

He also confirmed that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation would meet next week to decide whether adults will need to be given one or two doses of the vaccine.

Baxter's swine flu vaccine has been given the green light for approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

The EMEA has granted a 'positive opinion' for Baxter's Celvapan H1N1 pandemic vaccine. It will now need to be granted final marketing authorisation by the European Commission before being made available.

The UK government has contracts to buy swine flu vaccine from GSK and Baxter. GSK's vaccine Pandemrix was granted a 'positive opinion' last month.

England's chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson said this week that the vaccination programme would start in the second half of October 'if everything goes to plan'.