Thailand records low number of people receiving H1N1 shots

BANGKOK, Feb 4 (TNA) –  Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit disclosed that the number of high risk group members having received the (A)H1N1 flu vaccine was less than ten per cent of the two-million-dose target for the first 20 days of the national vaccination programme.

The public health ministry plans to give free A(H1N1) flu shots to two million people in five risk groups including women who are more than three months pregnant, persons weighing over 100 kg, the disabled, persons with chronic diseases and public health personnel.

More than 125,000–less than ten percent of the targeted number of two million recipients—were vaccinated voluntarily from January 11 to 29, said Public Health Minister Jurin on Thursday after conferring with senior local health officials across the country via tele-conference.

The northeastern province of Nong Bua Lam Phu recorded the fewest recipients for the shots with only 15.

The ministry will step up its public relations campaign to encourage more people to join the vaccination programme, which will run through March.

No new fatalities related to Influenza Type A(H1N1) occurred during the past week, according to the Public Health Ministry weekly report on January 27. The country’s total swine flu death toll stands at 198. (TNA)