The Health Ministry has applauded the step taken by the Chinese government in launching the first mass vaccination campaign against Pandemic H1N1 2009.

Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma who is currently in China said that through the campaign, the Chinese Health Ministry hopes to delay the peak, particularly reducing severe cases and prevent deaths.

He said that Chinese companies have been ordered to produce 65 million vaccine doses by the end of this year as WHO has secured H1N1 Vaccines to cover 15% of the underdeveloped countries.

He said Fiji has so far recorded a total of 226 cases however all the cases have recovered and there were no serious cases.

Dr Sharma is attending the 60th World Health Organization Regional Committee Meeting for the Western Pacific.