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560,000 people vaccinated on first national immunization day

ROC Central News Agency

2009/12/15 21:07:54

By Chen Chin-fang and Rachel Chan

Taipei, Dec. 15 (CNA) Some 560,000 people were vaccinated against influenza A (H1N1), commonly known as swine flu, on the first day of a national free inoculation program that began Dec. 12, bringing to 4.12 million the total number of people immunized in the country, according to statistics released Tuesday by the Central Epidemics Command Center (CECC).

Deputy Minister of Health Chang Shan-chwen said at a CECC press conference that Taiwan is among the world's top five countries with the highest inoculation rate, as since the DOH's immunization program started Nov. 1, 17.9 percent of Taiwan's 23 million people have been vaccinated against H1N1.

"Given that no country but Taiwan has held a large-scale inoculation program in schools, it could also be a world record that 80 percent of lower-grade and 75 percent of higher-grade elementary school students have been vaccinated," Chang said.

Targeting the entire population in an effort to stem the spread of H1N1 following an inoculation program for people considered at higher risk of contracting the disease, the national inoculation program kicked off Dec. 12 in 2,584 clinics and hospitals and 354 free vaccination stations set up by the Department of Health (DOH).

According to CECC statistics, 563,712 people received vaccinations on the first day of the program, with 20 counties and cities meeting their target numbers of inoculations.

Among them, Lienchiang County, Chiayi City, Chiayi County, Tainan County and Taitung County vaccinated 1.5-3.5 times more people than expected, the CECC added.

The H1N1 virus has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world this year, including 35 in Taiwan.

Meanwhile that day, Health Minister Yang Chih-liang said in an interview with a local radio station that compared with other countries in the region, Taiwan has done a good job with its vaccination program and getting the epidemic under control.

He noted that over 4 million of 7 million vaccines doses acquired by the government have been used, while the rate of people developing side effects after receiving the vaccine is similar to the international level.

Also, people in Taiwan should consider themselves lucky because the government's immunization program is free and covers everybody, said the health minister.

According to Yang, Hong Kong, which has only one-third of Taiwan's population, has had twice the number of H1N1 deaths recorded in Taiwan, despite having acquired H1N1 vaccines much earlier.

He also noted that in Japan, only low-income people are eligible for free vaccinations, while in the United States, they are free only for seriously ill patients and children.

Rebutting criticism that the government is giving profits to Adimmune Corp., Taiwan's only human vaccine manufacturer, by purchasing their vaccine, Yang pointed out that the company produces high-quality vaccine at only half the price of imported products.

The company also has stricter standards in testing for residues and toxins than the World Health Organization, he added.