Health dept aims to immunise people before World Cup
The first round of the immunisation, in the middle of March, will be targeted at emergency workers, officials and port of entry workers as well as children under 15. The department will also conduct a massive immunisation campaign against measles and polio in April.
The health department says it now has about five million doses of the H1N1 vaccines, 3.5 million of which came from the World Health Organisation. The first phase of the H1N1 campaign will prioritise protection of HIV positive people, children under 15 and health officials.
Phase two will resume in May for pregnant women and people with heart and lung disease. Health authorities have meanwhile advised patients in the private sector including international visitors to get vaccinations against normal influenza at the end of March, before winter.
This year's seasonal vaccine will contain components that will protect people from getting the H1N1 influenza commonly known as swine flu. In April and May the department aims to vaccinate children against measles and polio.
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Feb. 17, 2010