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Free flu vaccines ready for Australians next week

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-23 13:59

SYDNEY: Sick and elderly people are being encouraged to take up a free A(H1N1) flu vaccine when it becomes available across New South Wales (NSW) next week as part of Australia's biggest ever vaccination program.

Special coverage:  Flu Pandemic Outbreak Related readings:  WHO chief promises H1N1 vaccines for poorer nations  China says first H1N1 flu vaccinations a success  Students world's first to get H1N1 vaccine  Australia approves rollout of H1N1 flu vaccine

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant on Wednesday urged those most vulnerable to the disease to take up the free vaccination from their doctors.

"Those groups include people with lung and heart conditions, pregnant women and others with cancer and other malignancies," Chant told reporters in Sydney.

"We do urge that group as a priority to go forward.

"However, the vaccine is available to anyone who wants to protect themselves from A(H1N1)."

Chant said 1,600 doctors had already ordered the vaccine, and she encouraged people to ring their doctors to check whether it had arrived.

The federal government has purchased 21 million doses of the vaccine.