Vaccination, a necessity

The Romanian Health Ministry pays special attention to anti-flu vaccination and this year it has purchased twice the number of vaccine doses used last year.

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Leyla Cheamil, 19.01.2018, 13:54

The flu has claimed another life in Romania. According to the National Center of Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, the victim is a teenager who had no other disease and had not been vaccinated against the flu. In the first week of 2018, a 69-year-old woman, who was suffering from other diseases and had not been vaccinated also died after she developed flu, caused by the type B influenza virus.

These cases have brought again to public attention the importance of vaccination, which specialists say is essential in preventing certain diseases. The line minister Florian Bodog has called for a continuation of the vaccination campaign, saying there are 300,000 doses available for the categories at risk.

Florian Bodog: “I have launched a public call, through the media and not only, for an intensification of the anti-flu vaccination campaign. Until now, if the information I have is correct, 700,000 people have been vaccinated, especially people at high risk of getting ill. This year, the Health Ministry has purchased twice the number of doses of vaccine purchased last year, which is one million. “

Over January 8th – 14th, 80 cases of flu were registered, as compared to some 300 registered in the same period last year. A rather controversial subject in Romania, vaccination has proven its efficacy in time, saving numerous lives. Here is minister Florian Bodog again.

Florian Bodog: “There have been debates as to whether vaccination is effective. As we know, Europe is faced with a serious flu epidemic and the circulation of flu viruses this year is rather serious. In 2017, the World Health Organization recommended that vaccination should start as early as November and we followed that recommendation. But people can still do it now.”

Florian Bodog has given assurances that the health ministry is extremely responsible when it comes to citizens’ health and anti-flu vaccination, just like all types of vaccination included in the vaccination programme, is a safe procedure.

In turn, the president of the Romanian Society for Microbiology Alexandru Rafila has stated that vaccination should continue in January, given the circulation of flu viruses and the fact that the flu season might extend until spring. At the same time, specialists insist on immunization against measles, which has made many victims in Romania. A two-year old with measles died early this month. In the past two years, more than 10,000 people have been diagnosed with measles in Romania, 37 of whom have died.