Treyfish
Moderator
SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak instructed his government Monday to take all necessary measures to halt the spread of Influenza A (H1N1) and ensure people understand the government measures already in place.
"We must take all means necessary especially ahead of the college entrance exam so the students and their parents will not have to worry," the president said in a weekly meeting with his aides.
Lee has also instructed the related government offices to review their quarantine and prevention systems, according to his spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.
The call came as the country is set to start public vaccination against the new flu Tuesday. About 35 percent of the country's 49 million people will be vaccinated under the government plan, starting with infants and elders, those considered highly vulnerable to the H1N1 virus.
Lee refused to be one of the first to get a shot despite a recommendation Monday from his top secretaries at the meeting.
"There is no need for me to hurry. I will wait for my appropriate turn just as everyone else," the 67-year-old president was quoted as saying by his spokesman.
The president urged the people to remain calm, saying the government is already doing all it can to fight the virus.
"We must let the people and the media understand that we are already taking the most thorough and complete prevention measures in the world to prevent the spread of a panic," he said.
Tens of thousands have been confirmed to have contracted the type-A influenza that has claimed 22 lives in the country as of Monday.
:tiphat:http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/10/26/63/0301000000AEN20091026005100315F.HTML
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"We must take all means necessary especially ahead of the college entrance exam so the students and their parents will not have to worry," the president said in a weekly meeting with his aides.
Lee has also instructed the related government offices to review their quarantine and prevention systems, according to his spokesman Park Sun-kyoo.
The call came as the country is set to start public vaccination against the new flu Tuesday. About 35 percent of the country's 49 million people will be vaccinated under the government plan, starting with infants and elders, those considered highly vulnerable to the H1N1 virus.
Lee refused to be one of the first to get a shot despite a recommendation Monday from his top secretaries at the meeting.
"There is no need for me to hurry. I will wait for my appropriate turn just as everyone else," the 67-year-old president was quoted as saying by his spokesman.
The president urged the people to remain calm, saying the government is already doing all it can to fight the virus.
"We must let the people and the media understand that we are already taking the most thorough and complete prevention measures in the world to prevent the spread of a panic," he said.
Tens of thousands have been confirmed to have contracted the type-A influenza that has claimed 22 lives in the country as of Monday.
:tiphat:http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/10/26/63/0301000000AEN20091026005100315F.HTML
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