衛生部昨天公布《擴大國家免疫規劃實施方案》，方案將擴大國家免疫規劃范圍，把甲肝、流腦等15種可以通過接種疫苗有效預防的傳染病納入國家免疫規劃，符合規定的人群可免費接種。

The country's immunization drive has been given a shot in the arm to protect people against 15 infectious diseases for free, a document from the Ministry of Health said yesterday.

The plan will see China holding the world's most extensive immunization drive, with 14 vaccines covering the 15 diseases, ministry spokesman Mao Qun'an said at a press conference yesterday.

Eight vaccines have been added to prevent diseases such as hepatitis A and epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, Mao said.

Among the new vaccines are four specially formulated for children, the ministry said. The rest are targeted at special groups of people deemed particularly susceptible to certain epidemics.

Premier Wen Jiabao first announced the ongoing nationwide immunity drive at the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress in March last year.

Before that, six vaccines were included in a plan that immunized people against tuberculosis, measles, polio, whooping cough andhepatitis B.

"Immunization provides protection not only to the immunized, but, in the case of many diseases, also the people with whom the immunized person comes in contact with," Mao said.

In two years', more than 90 percent of children will be vaccinated against most of the infectious diseases, the ministry.

Mao also said some adverse effects are inevitable for a small group of people because of their constitutions.

The government will compensate victims in such situations after the requisite verification, Mao said.

(China Daily)

Vocabulary:

epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis: 流行性腦膜炎（流腦）

tuberculosis：肺結核

measles：麻疹

polio：小兒麻痹癥

whooping cough：百日咳

hepatitis B：乙肝

（英語點津 Celene 編輯）