A/H1N1 vaccination program extends to all Beijingers

China's capital Beijing is leading the country in planning an extended A/H1N1 vaccination program which will cover all people with registered permanent Beijing residency.

The roll-out will begin on Nov. 16 and during the program which last until Dec. 13, some 402 clinics will be opened across the city. People will be able get their free shots, Saturday's China Daily reported.

People who are living temporarily in the municipality might also get inoculated with the A/H1N1 flu vaccine, if they work in important public service departments in the city, Zhao Tao, director of the emergency response office under the Beijing Health Bureau was quoted as saying.

As of Thursday, the city had vaccinated 440,000 residents, most of whom were students and people with key public service jobs.

More than six million people had received the vaccine in the country as of Friday, according to the Ministry of Health. About 55,000 cases of A/H1N1 flu had been reported and 16 deaths recorded on the Chinese mainland.

The ministry also announced a change of rule in recording A/H1N1 deaths.

Under the new rules, people who are cured of A/H1N1 but die of preexisting conditions or of mixed flu virus infections, including the A/H1N1 strain, will be counted as H1N1 deaths.

"It's in line with international practice and is more accurate in reflecting the pandemic situation here in China," said Feng Zijian, director of the emergency response department at the Chinese Centers of Disease Prevention and Control.

Source: Xinhua