APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched on Tuesday a seven-day first round of H1N1 pandemic influenza vaccination aimed at preventing possible occurrence of the disease during the current rainy season in the country.

Accordingly, it is reported that the vaccination would be given to three million people in Addis Ababa and other tourist destination towns in the country.

The towns are Hawassa Arbaminch, Adama, Shashemene, Harar, Diredawa, Bahirdar Gondar, Dessie, Lalibela, Mekelle and Axum.

Dr. Kesetebirhan Adimasu, an official at the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, said that no case has been detected so far, but the campaign aims to prevent possible occurrence during the rainy season.

“WHO has donated medicine to vaccine three million people. Vaccine for 1.5 million people has already been imported while the remaining would be imported soon,” said Ethiopian ministry of health

WHO Ethiopia Office Representative DR. Fatoumata Nafo-Traore said that similar vaccination has already been given in South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Togo and Algeria.

She said other nine African countries are about to launch the vaccination.

The representative said priority is given to vulnerable segments of the society that include employees of health facilities, police and defence force members, airlines and immigration officers, pregnant women and students.

The Ethiopian population stood at 79.2 million people in 2007.