Chinese authorities are to target school children as part of their mass Mexican flu vaccination campaign. Between 8 and 30 October, children in primary and secondary schools in the capital Beijing will be given shots against the A(H1N1) virus - provided they have permission from their parents.

In Beijing, some 100,000 people planning to take part in the National Day celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of People's Republic on 1 October have already been inoculated with the vaccine, which is still in test phase.

The health ministry says it plans to have enough vaccine to cover five percent of the population - or 65 million people - by the end of the year. Besides schools, the military and police will be given priority. Health authorities claim the vaccine prevents Mexican or swine flu with a single dose. There is no similar vaccination against the flu available in the West.