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CDC begins national bird flu vaccination program

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CDC begins national bird flu vaccination program

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The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began a nationwide program to provide free vaccinations against influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as bird flu, that is scheduled to last until Sept. 30, the centers said Wednesday.

"With new infections in poultry being reported in several countries including China, Vietnam and Indonesia, risks still exist for the disease to spread in the country," CDC Deputy Director-General Chou Jih-haw said.

The centers urged medical personnel in charge of disease control and prevention, animal quarantine officers, security check officers at airports and ports, coast guard officers, and people who frequently visit bird-flu affected countries to participate, Chou said.

Chou said a total of 190,000 doses of the vaccine that will expire at the end of November are available to the public during the one-month inoculation program. Although the bird flu vaccination will be free of charge, citizens still need to pay registration fees and medical examination fees to receive the inoculation at designated hospitals, clinics or public health centers, he added.

Meanwhile, Chou also announced that seasonal flu vaccinations will kick off Oct. 1, with 2.98 million doses of government-funded vaccine available for hight risk groups.

Source: http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?ID=201009010026&Type=aLIV