Thailand's public health ministry Thursday instructed public health stations nationwide to urge people to voluntarily get vaccinated against the A/H1N1 influenza.

Only some 125,670 Thais were vaccinated against the A/H1N1 influenza during a period from January 11 to 29, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit disclosed Thursday.

Thailand's public health ministry with its two million doses of the vaccine against the new flu has been offering the vaccination until the end of March.

The 125,670 vaccinated people accounted for less 10 percent of the total two million doses of the vaccine available for the people in the most risky groups, the minister said.

Among the 125,670 vaccinated Thais largely included 84,099 medical staff, 24,428 people with chronic diseases, and 12,885 pregnant women.

The recent news reports of fetal deaths after the vaccination against the new flu of their mothers could affect the public confidence in the vaccine, he said.

However, medical experts have already proved that the fetal deaths were not linked to the anti-A/H1N1-influenza vaccination of their mothers, the minister said.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2010)