Plan to inoculate all Czech soldiers against swine flu dropped

The Czech minister of defence, Martin Barták, and the chief of staff of the country’s army, Vlastimil Picek, have reversed a decision to have all Czech soldiers inoculated against the swine flu virus. The turnaround was announced on Wednesday after the Czech president, Václav Klaus, issued a statement condemning blanket vaccinations of troops; the president said soldiers ought to be allowed to decide for themselves on the matter and should not be treated as guinea pigs. Meanwhile, the number of deaths from swine flu in the Czech Republic has risen to 95, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.