All Chinese eligible for Beijing H1N1 vaccine

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-23 11:36

Beijing's free A/H1N1 flu vaccine program has widened to include residents from other provinces, the city's municipal health bureau said.

Foreigners working in embassies and consulates can also apply for free vaccinations from the department of foreign affairs, the bureau said.

Through the use of an identity card, Chinese citizens without a Beijing resident permit can get a free inoculation at 402 locations in the city, seven days a week.

A full list of vaccine centers is available on the Beijing municipal health bureau website (www.bjhb.gov.cn), or through its hotline on 12320.

Beijing residents were given the right to receive vaccinations on Nov 16, although migrant workers were prohibited at that time. Currently, about 2 million people have already taken the vaccine in the city.

"We received the notice to vaccinate the migrant population on Saturday and about 10 people came during the weekend," said a medical worker in Tuanjiehu health service center yesterday.

To limit the spread of H1N1, the Beijing municipal government put out a public notice on Saturday asking all patients and medical workers to wear masks in hospitals.

The hospitals must also sell masks outside their entrances.

The government stipulated that classes with more than 20 percent of its students suffering from fever must postpone classes.

In most of the city's hospitals, highly qualified doctors are required to remain on duty after working hours in the event of flu accidents, the health bureau also said on Saturday.

The latest report from the bureau said that 530 people were reported to contract H1N1 between Nov 9 and 15. This is a 17.2 percent drop from last week.