Stockholm  - Mass vaccinations in Sweden against A(H1N1) virus, or swine flu, are to begin in mid-October, a week later than planned, a Swedish health authority said Thursday.

The National Board of Health and Welfare said the delay was due to repackaging of the vaccine by pharmaceutical group GlaxoSmithKline to make it easier for staff to perform vaccinations.

Sweden has registered two deaths among over 1,130 cases reported. Despite the delay the agency said it was confident tht most of the population would be able to benefit from the vaccination programme before the flu peaks.