Government to weigh mandatory swine flu vaccinations for state workers

The Czech government on Monday is to review a proposal by the country’s chief hygiene officer to instate mandatory swine flu vaccinations for 200,000 individuals, Health Minister Dana Jurásková told Czech Television on Sunday. The measure is intended for persons responsible for the running of the state, namely policemen, firemen and healthcare workers and was approved by the National Security Council on Friday. The proposal was immediately criticised by shadow health minister David Rath of the Social Democratic Party, who said that the H1N1 virus was a mild ailment for people who are not critically ill. There are currently 1016 cases of swine flu per 100,000 people and there have been 83 deaths connected to the virus since October. Currently one-fourth of the vaccine stock purchased by the state has been used.