The South Korean government said Friday that it plans to intensify its efforts on securing vaccines against the A/H1N1 virus, increasing its expenditure to nearly 200billion won, or 157 million U.S. dollars.

"We will continue to work on securing enough vaccines that could cover 13 million people, or 27 percent of the nation's total population," the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said in a statement.

With the planned nearly-200 billion won, or 157 million U.S. dollars, the ministry plans to brace for a fast spread of the disease during the upcoming fall season, it added.

The government will also launch a program to develop prototypes for a vaccine this week as it wishes to accelerate the development of preventive drugs.

The announcement comes one day after an elementary school was closed temporarily after its student was confirmed with the influenza virus.

As of Friday morning, South Korea's influenza cases stood at a total of 238, of which 45 are remaining at state-designated hospitals.

South Korea has not confirmed any death case related to the disease.

Source: Xinhua