Flu vaccination campaign
Flu vaccination campaign
This year's campaign will stress the importance of vaccination for elderly people
The campaign will begin on 3 October and will stress the importance of vaccination against influenza for elderly people. The Ministry of Health will distribute 1,270,000 doses of vaccine during the 2-month campaign (October-November).
The vaccine for winter 2011-2012 protects against three strains, as recommended by the World Health Organisation: A/California/7/2009 (H1N1); A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2) and B/Brisbane/60/2008.
It is estimated that between 5% and 20% of the general population could be affected by flu and that it could be the cause of approximately 25% of respiratory fevers.
The risk groups to receive vaccinations include people with a high risk of complications, including those suffering from certain chronic conditions (pulmonary and cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, renal failure), residents and patients in closed institutions (care homes, chronic illness treatment centres, residences for the mentally ill, etc.), pregnant women, the morbidly obese and the over-60s.
Health workers and employees working in institutions with high risk persons, such as care homes for the elderly and chronic illness treatment centres, must also be vaccinated, as must those working in essential public services such as the police, fire service, civil protection authorities, A&E departments, prisons and remand centres.
