A/H1N1 vaccine safe for public: Authorities

The safety of the A/H1N1 vaccine and fears of its side-effects have attracted public concern in China. It has caused some people within the high risk group to decline receiving the inoculation. But health authorities have reassured the public the injection is safe and are encouraging early inoculation.

The A/H1N1 vaccine was developed in July this year. The vaccine producer's employees and relatives were among the first to roll up their sleeves and receive the injection.

Wang Nan, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Sinovac Biotech, said, "The technology is mature and stable. The virus strain is distributed by the WHO, and it has been deemed safe after years of experiments. The process is the same as the seasonal flu. So it is safe to receive the injection."

Chinese medical teams are researching a vaccine that combines seasonal flu and A/H1N1 flu together. If everything goes smoothly, the vaccine could be developed next year.

Related departments are conducting clinical trials for children and pregnant women who cannot receive the A/H1N1 vaccine.