Chinese health authorities began a mass vaccination campaign against A (H1N1) or Mexican flu in the capital Beijing today. China is the first country in the world to start inoculating its citizens against pandemic influenza.

The first people immunised were students due to take part in next week's National Day celebrations. The government is planning to vaccinate 65 million people - five percent of the population - before the end of the year.
 

The first groups to be vaccinated include hospital personnel, public transport workers, soldiers and police officers as well as teachers and students. The immunisation programme kicked off in Beijing and eight provinces that have reported the largest number of infections. The Chinese authorities have registered almost 12,000 cases of A (H1N1). So far, no deaths have been attributed to Mexican flu.