Swine flu shots enter second phase

Efforts to counter swine flu gained momentum Monday as more prefectures started administering vaccinations to pregnant women and people with chronic diseases.

Hold still: A pregnant woman receives a flu vaccination Monday at an obstetrician's office in the city of Aomori during the second phase of swine flu inoculations based on risk. KYODO PHOTO

In addition to Gifu, Wakayama and Yamaguchi prefectures, which had a head start Friday, 17 prefectures said they were starting the vaccinations Monday. Others are scheduled to start providing inoculations by mid-November.

The vaccinations target 6 million people with chronic diseases who are either hospitalized or are young children, and 1 million pregnant women.

These groups were placed second on the priority list after medical staff, who stared getting vaccinations Oct. 19.

Many cities plan to start inoculating pregnant women Nov. 16 as safer preservative-free vaccines become available.

Three million people with chronic diseases who aren't covered in this phase are to start receiving the vaccine in early December.

Under the current regimen, pregnant women and the chronically ill are given two doses of the vaccine. This could be reduced to one dose after the government reviews clinical trials.