Prague Daily Monitor


January 12, 2010



Government extends swine flu vaccination programme

ČTK |

12 January 2010

Prague, Jan 11 (CTK) - The Czech government Monday approved Health Minister Dana Juraskova's
proposal to extend the strategy of vaccination against the H1N1 flu virus to include further groups
of people with health risks and more medical personnel, Prime Minister Jan Fischer said Monday.

Members of indispensable public services such as policemen, firefighters and soldiers are to be
vaccinated against swine flu, he said.

Fischer said he himself would not undergo vaccination. "I firmly believe that I will overcome,"
Fischer told CTK with a smile, adding that he had never been vaccinated against regular seasonable
flu.

Juraskova told the government that a further cargo with about 70,000 anti-swine flu vaccines was
expected to arrive in the Czech Republic, Fischer said.

The 10-million Czech Republic purchased vaccines for the vaccination of almost one million people.

Previously, the Health Ministry announced that after January 1, vaccination against swine flu would
start for people vital for the work of the Czech state, such as Czech Rail controllers, road
traffic, water management, the Czech Post Office, the national power company CEZ and the prison
service crucial employees.

In all, about 150,000 people from the public services are to be vaccinated.

Besides, the vaccination of children, the chronically ill, and of health personnel will continue in
January.

The vaccination started in the Czech Republic at the end of November. People suffering from chronic
diseases who are most endangered by the H1N1 virus were the first to receive the vaccines.

The health staff was also vaccinated to prevent the infection of patients.

Vaccination of children started in early December.