Beijing took the lead in the country to start A/H1N1 flu vaccination program Monday, the municipal health authorities announced.

Students due to take part in the National Day celebrations on Oct. 1 are the first to be immunised, a municipal health bureau official said.

The health bureau has deployed 500 medical staff in 49 teams to carry out vaccinations in colleges, middle and primary schools in the city, he said.

The vaccination is funded by the municipal government and is free. Citizens can decide for themselves if they want the vaccination, he said.

The total number of confirmed cases of A/H1N1 influenza on the Chinese mainland had reached 11,722 as of 3 p.m. Friday, figures from the Ministry of Health showed.

All the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities on the mainland have reported A/H1N1 flu cases. So far there have been no deaths reported.

(Xinhua News Agency September 21, 2009)