A fifth Irish person has died from swine flu as confusion mounts over the arrival of the vital vaccine.

Doctors confirmed last night that a man from the east of the country, who also had a serious underlying medical condition, died on Sunday.

All five who have died here from swine flu have had a pre-existing medical condition and the latest victim is believed to have suffered from heart disease.

News of the death followed the arrival of the first batch of the swine flu vaccinations to some GPs yesterday.

They will first be administered to 410,000 people with medical conditions and individuals who are particularly susceptible to the flu virus.

However, there is still confusion among patients and medical professionals as to how and when the vaccine will be readily available.

Clinics

The HSE confirmed that 800 of the estimated 1,800 GPs in the country who ordered the vaccine will receive their shipment by the end of the week.

The others will get the vaccine Pandemrix, made by Glaxosmithcline, next week.

But some GPs are expected to be able to set up clinics over the next fortnight.

An HSE spokesperson said: "GPs will initially receive a small quantity of the vaccines, which will build up over the next four weeks by the end of which 410,000 should be distributed to doctors around the country.

"It is important that people in 'at risk' groups realise that not all GPs will be in a position to begin offering the vaccine until November 2."

In order to tackle any confusion, patients who are given the vaccine will receive a fact sheet to accompany it, which are being printed in nine languages.

Surgeries will also receive special information for pregnant women.

In spite of the additional information being added, doctors have been left puzzled over recent shipments of the vaccine.

Yesterday, several doctors received a letter from the HSE thanking them for signing up to administer the antiviral drug when they had not done so.

One retired doctor said he received 40 doses of the vaccine yesterday, but said he had never even received an invitation from the HSE to join the scheme.

Waiting

Another doctor who asked the HSE for more than 100 doses was told he could not receive them as he had not filled out the required acceptance form.

However, he still received doses, along with a letter thanking him for taking part in the scheme.

Several GPs in the country insured by Medisec are still waiting to be cleared by their insurer with regards to indemnity issues and, even though the HSE gave a list of answers to any questions from the doctors union, the Medical Organisation still has queries.

The country's first victim of the virus, Darina Calpin died in August of this year. Darina, who suffered from cystic fibrosis, had just turned 18 before her tragic death.

She was due to receive her Leaving Cert results days later.

hnews@herald.ie

- Caitlin McBride