Pacific

French Polynesia lanches flu vaccination campaign

16:38 pm on 3 November 2003

A vaccination campaign against the flu will begin in French Polynesia this week as the territory is going through a fresh peak in the number of people suffering from flu-like symptoms.

Vaccines have been distributed to all public health care centres and will be available for free to the elderly and those affected by respiratory illnesses.

A doctor working for public health says there is no epidemic but efforts continue to prevent a possible outbreak, with a second wave of vaccinations due in two weeks.

Once administered, the vaccine will become effective in ten to 15 days.