Saudi Arabia makes swine flu vaccines available for all

Saudi Arabia has made swine flu vaccines available for all of its citizens and expatriates in primary health care centres across the Kingdom.

"The service has been launched because the ministry is keen to see that as many people as possible are inoculated against the virus," said Khaled Al-Mirghalani, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health.

Asking parents to ensure that their children receive the vaccine, Al-Mirghalani warned the third wave of the virus may be more severe.

"We are not forcing parents to have their children vaccinated, but we strongly advise them to do so as a preventive measure," a local daily has quoted him as saying.

Around 15,500 cases of swine flu, which has claimed 124 lives, have been reported in the Kingdom since last May.

Al-Mirghalani said the vaccination programme would last for five weeks.

Health officials will also visit national and international schools to vaccinate children whose parents have given their consent.

Around 60,000 students have already received the H1N1 shots, according to the Ministry of Education figures.

That is less than one per cent of the Kingdom's population, which is around 27 million.