Vaccination drive boosted to 15 diseases

[Guest guest]

"

Mao also said some adverse effects are inevitable for a small group of

people because of their constitutions. "

At least they are honest!

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-02/19/content_6464691.htm

Vaccination drive boosted to 15 diseases

By Shan (China Daily)

Updated: 2008-02-19 07:28

The country's immunization drive has been given a shot in the arm to protect

people against 15 infectious diseases for free, a document from the Ministry

of Health said Monday.

The plan will see China holding the world's most extensive immunization

drive, with 14 vaccines covering the 15 diseases, ministry spokesman Mao Qun

an said at a press conference Monday.

Eight vaccines have been added to prevent diseases such as hepatitis A and

epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, Mao said.

Among the new vaccines are four specially formulated for children, the

ministry said. The rest are targeted at special groups of people deemed

particularly susceptible to certain epidemics.

Premier Wen Jiabao first announced the ongoing nationwide immunity drive at

the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress in March last year

Before that, six vaccines were included in a plan that immunized people

against tuberculosis, measles, polio, whooping cough and hepatitis B.

" Immunization provides protection not only to the immunized, but, in the

case of many diseases, also the people with whom the immunized person comes

in contact with, " Mao said.

In two years', more than 90 percent of children will be vaccinated against

most of the infectious diseases, the ministry.

Mao also said some adverse effects are inevitable for a small group of

people because of their constitutions.

The government will compensate victims in such situations after the

requisite verification, Mao said.

In response to public outcry over a umbilical cord blood bank in Shanghai

profiteering from supplies meant for private use, Mao said an expert team

had already been deployed to investigate the problem.

The Shanghai cord blood bank opened in 2006 in a bid to store donated cord

blood and help match supplies to patients at no charge.