On September 13, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. In Belarus, an increase in the incidence of ARVI and influenza is predicted for January-March, in connection with which it is best to get vaccinated before the beginning of December. This was reported to BelTA by the Ministry of Health. As specialists explain, after vaccination, the body needs from 14 to 30 days to develop full protection against influenza – this is the time it takes to produce antibodies. Vaccination is effective for up to 8 months, after which the protective antibody level decreases. That is why doctors recommend getting vaccinated annually, not relying on immunity supposedly remaining from the previous year. The vaccination campaign against influenza in Belarus started in September. The Ministry of Health strongly recommends participating in it. Experience shows that influenza vaccination increases the body's resistance to this infection, reduces the severity of the disease, and decreases the likelihood of illness in people who do not have immunity. Modern influenza vaccines, made from appropriate strains and used in the correct dose, protect about 70-90% of healthy children and adults from influenza. With the help of vaccines, it is possible to potentially prevent influenza epidemics, and mass vaccination of people belonging to high-risk groups for morbidity can limit influenza epidemics in general, the Ministry of Health noted. The Ministry also drew attention to the fact that detailed information about influenza and other acute respiratory infections is available on the official website of the Ministry of Health. Website users will find this information in the "Immunoprophylaxis in the Republic of Belarus" section, under the heading "Current Issues on Influenza and Other Acute Respiratory Infections and Their Prevention". According to official data from the European Influenza Surveillance Network (EuroFlu) of the WHO European Regional Office, influenza activity across the WHO European Region remains low. The viruses identified and studied so far correspond to those recommended for inclusion in influenza vaccines for the 2011-2012 influenza season in the Northern Hemisphere. -0-

BELTA