Austria is carrying out a nationwide universal vaccination against A/H1N1 flu from Monday, in view of the growing trend of virus infections in the country.
In the first stage, the vaccination is to focus on the high- risk groups, including 76,000 pregnant women and 880,000 chronic patients,
especially those who have metabolic, respiratory and cardio-pulmonary circulatory system diseases, as well as diabetes, obesity and cancer.
In addition, the elderly, infants, children and the infirm are also the focus of vaccination. Other citizens, even if they are very healthy, can also take the vaccination upon their willingness.
Authorities said that Austria has prepared 16 million doses of vaccine, two times as many as the Austrian population.
The insurance sector has funded this universal vaccination. People can take the vaccination for free if they have health insurance in Austria, paying only a small amount of administering costs.
Austrian President Heinz Fischer on Monday morning took the flu vaccine in his office.
Since late last month, 280,000 Austrian medical workers have already started receiving the vaccination.
Since the first A/H1N1 flu case was confirmed in Austria at the end of April, an increasing number of new patients have been reported and confirmed, while the infection situation has shifted from pure imports to
local transmissions.
Over recent weeks, several schools across the country have been forced to close temporarily following reports of flu outbreaks.