The government’s immunization program for influenza A(H1N1), or swine flu, will start today across the nation, and the public will be entitled to take shots at designated locations based on a priority list.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Director Steve Kuo (郭旭崧) said that to avoid confusion, A(H1N1) vaccinations would be given in several stages to individuals in 12 vulnerable groups based on a priority list set by the Department of Health (DOH).
Six thousand people displaced by Typhoon Morakot in early August, who are being housed at 22 shelters, and medical personnel responsible for disease control and prevention, will be the first in line to be immunized, Kuo said.
They will be followed by pregnant women, pre-school children above one year of age and seriously ill patients, in that order.
Starting on Nov. 9, parents of babies between six months old and 12 months old will be able to take their infants to designated locations for vaccinations.
“Notices will be mailed out in the next couple of days. I urge parents to take their babies and report to hospitals for the shots,” said Chou Jih-haw (周志浩), CDC spokesman.
Up to 3.6 million elementary, junior and senior high school students will be the next group to be vaccinated, beginning on Nov. 12.
To complete the immunization program, which is expected to extend until the Lunar New Year holiday, the Department of Health has purchased 15 million does of A(H1N1) vaccine from local and foreign companies — a level sufficient to cover the anticipated demand of 12 million doses.
The DOH plan states that 5 million doses of A(H1N1) vaccine manufactured by Swiss-based pharmaceutical firm Novartis will first be used for high-risk individuals, while 10 million doses supplied by local manufacturer Adimmune Corp (國光生技) will be available early this month.
Huang Chih-chung (黃志中), chief of Kaohsiung County’s public health bureau, said 2,100 Morakot survivors housed at four shelters would be vaccinated starting today.
Kaohsiung County, the area hardest hit by the storm, has been allocated more than 30,000 doses of A(H1N1) vaccine by the central government, Huang said.
Meanwhile, Kinmen County will begin immunizing medical personnel tomorrow.
It will receive 40,500 doses of A(H1N1) vaccine from the central government for the 60,000 people who permanently reside there.
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