The Thai Ministry of Public Health on May 16 announced that it will deliver 3.5 million free doses of influenza vaccine to high-risk groups from May to September in a bid to minimise the number of flu patients and fatalities.

Deputy Health Minister Cholanan Srikeaw said that the ministry has instructed the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to distribute flu vaccines against three subtypes of the influenza virus, namely A/H1N1, A/H3N2 and B, to the most vulnerable groups.

The beneficiaries include patients suffering from chronic common influenzas, the elderly, people who suffer from obesity, children aged 6-24 months old, and pregnant women.

The ministry is organising a campaign to encourage people in high-risk groups to participate in the programme as soon as possible to get the best protection.-VNA