200,000 DOSES OF H1N1 VACCINE FOR HIGH-RISK GROUPS FROM FEBRUARY

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- Some 200,000 doses of Influenza A(H1N1)
vaccine will be allocated for high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children,
the elderly and people with chronic diseases beginning next month.

Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said they could get vaccinated with the
vaccine for free at the government hospitals and clinics.

Speaking to reporters after visiting a hospital here Tuesday, Liow
said the balance of 300,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine from the 400,000 ordered from
Britain would be received at the end of this month.

"We will conduct (100,000) vaccinations on the frontline workers first, and
then the high-risk groups like pregnant women, the obese, and those with high
blood pressure and so on.

"They are our priority before the vaccine is distributed for other groups in
preventing and curbing H1N1 infections," he said.

On the H1N1 situation in the country, Liow said it was under control, with
the ministry abiding by the World Health Organisation's directive for continuous
close monitoring of all cases of flu.

"We are worried if the H1N1 virus will mutate. But our monitoring have so
far not shown that the virus has mutates into other forms."

He said the district health officers had also been instructed to obtain all
flu samples for further tests.

On another matter, Liow said the ministry would work at enabling private
doctors to serve as locums at government hospitals and clinics as soon as
possible.

"They told me that they had applied to serve as locums but they never got
invited. After our dialogue session with the Malaysian Medical Association last
Friday, we will work together at improving health services in the country."

Asked whether the private doctors would want a higher payment as locums at
the government hospitals, Liow said the current payment was reasonable at RM80
(US$23.92) per hour.

Earlier, he handed over two mock cheques for RM2 million (US$598,086) each
to Tung Shin Hospital and the Chinese Maternity Hospital for the purchase of
equipment and medicines.

Liow called for the setting up of more non-profit-based hospitals to enable
the low-income group to seek treatment at such hospitals.
-- BERNAMA