More than 20% of the Vitebsk region's population is planned to be vaccinated against influenza and ARVI this season

September 21, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. More than 20% of the population of the Vitebsk region is planned to be vaccinated against influenza and ARVI this season, the chief physician of the Vitebsk Regional Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, Vladimir Sinkevich, told a BELTA correspondent. Over 250,000 people are to be covered by vaccination. For the upcoming population immunization campaign, 77.5 thousand doses of vaccine have been purchased from the republican budget, and 177.2 thousand from the local budget. About 30 thousand doses will be purchased by the region's enterprises for their employees. At the same time, Naftan OJSC, Glubokoye Meat Processing Plant, Postavyfurniture OJSC, and Vitebskiye Produkty trading company are working most actively in this area. Immunization is planned to begin in October. "The vaccine has already been purchased, its laboratory control is being completed, and it will arrive in the region at the end of the month," the source noted. Currently, the region is experiencing a slight seasonal increase in morbidity, with adenoviruses and RSV viruses prevailing. In order to prevent ARVI and influenza, a set of preventive measures has been developed in all districts of the region, and continuous information work is being carried out among the population. At the same time, Vladimir Sinkevich emphasized that "vaccination carried out in optimal terms remains the most effective method of protection." -0-