The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that a campaign to vaccinate the entire population against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) would begin on December 12, 2009. To facilitate the vaccination campaign, Commander Yang of CECC instructed all general and municipal hospitals in the nation to remain open during the weekend of December 12 and 13, 2009.In addition, to promote pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination and encourage healthcare personnel in participating in the campaign, CECC is going to present role model awards to hospitals that give the most average number of H1N1 vaccinations during the period of December 11 and 13, 2009.

The top five hospitals that give the most average number of H1N1 vaccinations during the aforementioned period will be awarded a role model award, which will be announced during the meeting to be held by CECC on December 15, 2009.

According to the latest epidemic surveillance statistics compiled by the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), the total number of patients hospitalized for pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection is 766.About 30% of these patients have history of underlying diseases, including pulmonary diseases, kidney diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes.CECC reminded that the vaccination of the ninth, tenth and eleventh targeted groups on the H1N1 vaccine priority list began on December 1 and 7, 2009, and urged people who visited the outpatient service in the past year for pulmonary diseases, liver diseases, kidney diseases and diabetes and overweight people (people with BMI≧35) to get vaccinated against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) to reduce their risk of infection. People can get pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccines at the contracted hospitals administering the vaccine upon presentation of their National Health Insurance card and ID card.