No allergies found in first Thai H1N1-vaccinated groups

BANGKOK, Jan 12 (TNA) – Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health reported on Tuesday that all 355 persons in high-risk groups who on Monday joined the first A(H1N1) flu vaccination programme at hospitals were not allergic to the vaccines.

The first batch of those being vaccinated were pregnant women, persons with chronic diseases, those weighing over 100kg and medical workers, according to Dr Opas Karnkawinphong, Director General of the Bureau of Communicable Disease.

It was reported that no disabled persons on Monday were injected as they could face difficulties in travelling to hospitals.

Dr Opas said that the public health ministry will issue a weekly report on vaccination results on Thursdays and will follow up the condition of high-risk groups after four weeks after being injected.

Free vaccines can be accessed through February while pregnant women are offered the vaccination service through April.

Regarding the lower-than-expected number of people receiving H1N1 inoculations, Permanent Secretary for Public Health Paichit Varachit reasoned that the high risk groups may not be informed about this vaccination programme.

Additionally the Influenza Type A(H1N1) situation currently has been not critical so high-risk group might not be attentive to the need for shots.

Dr Paichit asserted that the vaccines are safe, and have been distributed to hospitals nationwide.

Meanwhile, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) officially begins its vaccination campaign on Tuesday.

Dr Malinee Sukvejvorakij, deputy Bangkok governor, said that the BMA has distributed nearly 170,000 doses of vaccines to state hospitals and BMA-administered hospitals for the service.

Regarding the Influenza Type A(H1N1) situation in Bangkok, neither new deaths nor new patients were reported in the past week. (TNA)