Department of Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang (楊志良) yesterday urged the public to receive the H1N1 vaccine ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays and said the locally produced vaccine is safe.
Less than 30 percent of the population has received the vaccine, Yaung said, adding that public concern is linked to extensive media coverage on side effects such as nausea, vomiting and dizziness.
Yaung made the remarks as he delivered a special report at the Chinese Nationalist Party’s (KMT) Central Standing Committee meeting yesterday on the nationwide inoculation program.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FONG, TAIPEI TIMES
As he spoke, Yaung became visibly upset, at one point throwing down his report on the table in front of him and berating the media for blowing side effects out of proportion — in violation of journalistic ethics.
“We expect the media to uphold [certain] standards and ethics,” he said.
He then said to journalists present at the meeting: “Reporters, I’m sorry, but for the sake of protecting [the health of] citizens, I had to say this ... I also hope the [KMT] chairman and the committee members will excuse me.”
Yaung was answered with a round of applause, including from President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who was present as KMT chairman.
The government launched a national immunization program on Nov. 1. So far, 5.6 million people have been vaccinated, accounting for 24 percent of the population.
From Feb. 1 to Feb. 13, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will set up vaccination stations at four airports in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung and Kaohsiung to encourage travelers who hold Republic of China passports, residency permits or working permits to receive the vaccine free of charge.
The stations will offer a choice of either the locally produced or Swiss-made H1N1 vaccine.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KO SHU-LING
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