Mass vaccination against influenza has commenced in Belarus, as reported to BELTA by the press service of the Ministry of Health.
Mass vaccination against influenza has commenced in Belarus, as reported to BELTA by the press service of the Ministry of Health.
This season, it is planned to vaccinate at least 40% of the country's population, including up to 75% of risk groups. The campaign is scheduled to conclude by December 1st.
Free vaccination will be administered using the "Grippol Plus" vaccine (Russia), while paid vaccination will offer vaccines from other manufacturers. All these vaccines are registered and approved for use in Belarus. They are highly effective and safe immunobiological medicinal products containing current virus strains.
According to the forecast of the National Centre for Influenza and Other Acute Respiratory Diseases, a moderate level of epidemiological activity of influenza viruses is expected in the 2018/2019 season. It is predicted that children under 14 years of age will predominate in the age structure of morbidity. Pregnant women, individuals over 65 years old, and those suffering from chronic diseases are also primarily recommended to get vaccinated.
In 2017, 40.5% of the population in Belarus was vaccinated against influenza. From November 2017 to March 2018, thanks to the vaccination campaign, it was possible to prevent over 135,000 cases of influenza (including over 16,200 cases of complicated forms) and over 182,000 cases of acute respiratory infections of non-influenza etiology. The averted economic damage is estimated at an amount equivalent to $76.8 million, with a return of $15.8 for every dollar invested in vaccination.