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Jul 9, 2009, 7:28 GMT

New Zealand offers flu vaccine to all as swine flu toll rises

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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