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MELBOURNE: Australia announced Thursday it would begin mass H1N1 flu vaccinations next month, as it fast-tracked an immunisation programme capable of covering its entire population.
The process was speeded up after "promising" human trials of a vaccine that were launched in late July when Australia pre-ordered enough doses to inoculate all of its 21 million people in a drive originally set to begin in October.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the trials had gone smoothly and authorities hoped to start the immunisation drive in September as soon as doctors said the jab was safe.
"The data we do have is the first that has been available in the world," Roxon told public broadcaster ABC.
"It looks very promising and we are certainly doing everything we can to make sure the vaccine is available and implementation is ready to go as soon as we get that tick-off.
"I think it's anticipated by the middle or end of September we will be starting to vaccinate the priority groups that, of course, are the most vulnerable."
She said priority groups for the initial delivery of two million doses would be pregnant women, those with chronic diseases, children in special schools and health workers.
Australia has recorded 121 H1N1 flu deaths, with 32,224 hit by the virus and 460 people hospitalised, 100 of them in intensive care.
- AFP/yb
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