By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak instructed the Cabinet Wednesday to take all necessary measures to quicken the supply of influenza A vaccine to hospitals for public vaccination.
``There are groundless rumors and excessive fears about the new flu,’’ Lee said during a visit to the National Medical Center in Seoul. ``We need to take all possible measures to make flu vaccine available for the public as soon as possible.’’
The instruction came one day after the government started a vaccination program for medical staff and relief workers. The general public will be able to receive the shots by as early as January after students, children, pregnant women, the elderly and soldiers have been inoculated.
President Lee noted that one of the government’s main responsibilities was to protect the life and health of the people.
``The government is now taking appropriate measures to prevent the spread of the new flu. People should trust the government,’’ Lee said.
The virus has claimed the lives of 29 people here ― including a healthy young woman ― as of Wednesday since the first death was reported on Aug. 15. Thousands are believed to have been infected with the disease.
As the death toll rises, health authorities are coming under growing public criticism for failing to tackle the situation properly.
Experts recommended the government close all schools, but it said the measure was not necessary yet. Health officials have said the flu’s fatality rate is not higher than that of ordinary types of flu, and that the disease was not life-threatening for healthy people.