Public willingness to receive A(H1N1) influenza vaccination shots seems to have increased after intensified promotional efforts.
Figures released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show that more than 40,000 people got vaccinated in the 24 hours between 10am on Wednesday and yesterday.
“The number has rebounded almost to the average level recorded last week,” CDC Director-General Steve Kuo (郭旭崧) said.
The immunization program almost came to a standstill early this week amid reports of the death of a boy allegedly related to A(H1N1) vaccination and a spate of cases involving patients suffering serious side effects from the shots.
In the face of mounting concern about the safety of locally produced vaccine and scathing criticism from opposition lawmakers of the immunization policy, as well as worries about a relapse of infections because of rising public resistance to inoculation, DOH Minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) was reduced to tears during a Legislative Yuan committee hearing on Wednesday.
Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲), meanwhile, said his appearance in a DOH-produced film urging people to get vaccinations represents his support for the government’s immunization policy, not an effort to help promote the Adimmune vaccine.
His remarks came after other DPP legislators criticized him for backing the Adimmune vaccine after reports of side effects.
“While I’m willing to take the risk by getting an Adimmune vaccine shot to back the immunization policy, I have never encouraged other people to follow suit,” he said.
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