The total vaccination coverage is currently 31.08% of the population, or 87.4% of the regional plan for this year's immunization. In accordance with the latest plan, in the Vitebsk region, it is intended to cover at least 35% of the population and 40% of employees of large enterprises with flu vaccinations this year.

Cabaret band "SEREBRYANAYA SVADBA" and the band "PLUM BUM" are two Belarusian groups that began their creative work in Vitebsk, but for various reasons continued it in other cities. Over the past 5 years, these two bands have become the hallmark of the theatrical direction in Belarusian music.

Strict control over the stay of foreign citizens in the region and the active application of administrative legislation have had a significant impact on reducing the number of crimes committed by them. Regarding the latter, Igor Bogachev emphasized that in the first half of the year alone, over 12,000 administrative protocols were drawn up against residents of other countries, including 574 individuals brought to administrative responsibility for violating the rules of stay in Belarus and the rules of transit passage through the territory of our country.

Within the structure of corruption offenses, embezzlement through abuse of official powers accounted for 44% (101 crimes), bribery - 36% (83), and abuse of official powers - 18% (41).

From October 4 to 7, 2013, the Department of Sports and Tourism of the Regional Executive Committee, in conjunction with the travel agency "Seven Roads" of Polotsk and OJSC "Raidotur" of Vitebsk, will conduct a promotional tour of tourist sites in the Vitebsk region for leading tour operators, representatives of tourist information centers, and media outlets of the Russian Federation.

A coordination meeting with the participation of representatives of the border and customs services of the Vitebsk region was held at the Vitebsk Customs on November 13. The meeting was attended by the management and officials of the Vitebsk Customs and the Polotsk Border Detachment, as well as representatives of interested controlling and other bodies.

The share of specially protected natural areas (SPNAs) in the Vitebsk region will reach 9.6% of the total area of the region by 2023. This was announced at an extraordinary session of the regional council by the Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Ruslan Vinokurov.

Nine new nature reserves will appear in the Vitebsk region within the next 10 years, the Vitebsk Regional Committee for Natural Resources and Environmental Protection reported.

Illegal windshield washer fluid worth over Br160 million was seized from a retail network of gas stations in the Vitebsk region, the BELTA correspondent was informed by the information and public relations department of the Internal Affairs Directorate of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee.

Within the framework of the Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus cross-border cooperation program, the implementation of the Bella Cuisine culinary heritage development project begins in the border regions of Belarus and Latvia, the project coordinator Anton Rodnenkov told BELTA.

More than 50 officials of the Vitebsk region have been held accountable for improper handling of citizens' appeals, reported Irina Tavtyn, Senior Assistant Prosecutor of the region for supervision of the enforcement of legislation on citizens' appeals.

Although there is still almost a month to wait for the New Year, retail outlets are already creating a festive mood by decorating their shop windows with New Year's attributes. Many grocery stores have shelves with children's gifts, and large shopping centers have whole rows offering a wide range of various New Year's products and souvenirs.