Despite 2 deaths, H1N1 shots go on

CHINA'S Ministry of Health said yesterday it will continue to advocate the use of swine flu vaccine even though two people died following inoculations.

One of the deaths was from an apparently unrelated heart attack, said ministry spokesman Deng Haihua. The cause of death for the other victim is still being investigated.

Deng said 12.2 million people had been given the vaccine across China as of Thursday, and unrelated but coincidental deaths were inevitable.

Ren Huawei of the China Academy of Medical Science said that heart attacks are common in China, killing about 1,479 people every day.

The ministry also said the two deaths won't affect the expansion of vaccine use around the country. China's swine flu vaccines were subjected to clinical tests before they were deployed in the mass injections.

Also yesterday, authorities said the total number of Chinese mainland deaths from swine flu has risen to 43.

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