Beijing moves to quash rumours of unsafe H1N1 jabs
Posted: 19 November 2009 1802 hrs

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BEIJING: Beijing authorities have moved to quash rumours fuelled by bogus text messages that the city would suspend H1N1 flu vaccinations, amid safety concerns after two people died following inoculations.

Some mobile phone subscribers in the city had received such text messages in recent days, state media have reported. The message purported to have been originated by city authorities.

But in a statement posted late Wednesday on its website, the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau said: "This text message is completely untrue."

Public concern over the safety of Chinese A(H1N1) vaccines had been growing after some recipients reportedly experienced adverse reactions.

The national health ministry on Friday said two people had died in China after being inoculated. The ministry did not say where the deaths occurred.

State-run Xinhua news agency on Thursday quoted a Beijing health bureau spokesman saying "the inoculations will not be suspended".

"Beijing has reported no serious cases of adverse reaction," spokesman Zhang Jianshu said.

A survey published by state media in October revealed that over half of all Chinese did not plan to be vaccinated due to worries about the safety of the shots.

China authorities in recent years have recalled or banned several pharmaceutical or herbal drug products after patients were sickened or even killed by them.

- AFP/sc