Wellington - New Zealand offered free standard influenza
vaccinations to everybody Thursday as the death toll from the new
swine flu disease rose to six with a possible seventh victim
unconfirmed.
The health ministry said the seasonal influenza vaccine, which is
offered free to pensioners and people with permanent respiratory
conditions like asthma ever winter, would now be available to
everyone without charge.
'While the vaccine will not protect individuals from pandemic
(swine) influenza, it is expected to ease the numbers of people who
will be seeking treatment for seasonal ills this year as well as
reducing the numbers of hospital admissions,' a ministry statement
said.
'The vaccine protects against the strains of influenza expected to
prevail this winter.'
Two people died at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital on Wednesday,
one was confirmed as having had the influenza A (H1N1) virus while
the second was a suspected case pending laboratory test results.
The health ministry said the country now had 1,431 confirmed cases
of swine flu, though the actual number would be significantly higher,
because only a small number of victims with symptoms were now being
tested.
It said it was a mild illness for most people who recovered
readily at home without needing medical treatment.
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