Flu shots encouraged to prevent spread

China has now vaccinated nearly 3.8 million people against the potentially fatal H1N1 influenza virus.

"Given the estimated 390 million people nationwide who are considered at high risk of the disease, the vaccine supply is limited," Liang Wannian, deputy director of the emergency response office of the Ministry of Health, said yesterday.

The top drug authority has so far approved nearly 52.9 million doses of the vaccine produced by eight domestic manufacturers. The ministry plans to inoculate 65 million people by the year's end.