Sydney: Australia has begun administering a swine flu vaccine, starting with health care workers, pregnant women and the chronically ill.

The first injections began Wednesday, a few days after China became the first country to start using a swine flu vaccine.

The Australian government has ordered 21 million doses of the vaccine developed by Melbourne-based CSL Ltd. More than 4 million doses have been produced so far.

Robert Booy, head of clinical research at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, says the first injections will be given to those most at risk from swine flu, including the chronically ill, the obese and indigenous people in remote communities.

As of Wednesday, 180 Australians had died from swine flu.