About 78,000 flu vaccines will be delivered to the Vitebsk region

October 14, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. In the first weeks of October, 11.4 thousand people in the Vitebsk region suffered from acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI), the deputy head of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee's Healthcare Department, Sergey Tsyrkin, told a BELTA correspondent. The number of cases is approximately 1 thousand people less than in the first two weeks of October 2008. Moreover, this trend is observed in all four control cities of the region - Vitebsk, Orsha, Polotsk, Novopolotsk, where ARVI and flu morbidity has been monitored daily since October 1. Meanwhile, from January to September 2009, almost 28 thousand people in the region suffered from ARVI, which is 1.12 times more than in the same period of 2008. The recorded number of flu cases also increased by 1.29 times compared to January-September 2008. Next week, flu vaccines will begin to arrive in the region. It is planned that the region will receive about 78 thousand doses of drugs, both intranasal and subunit vaccines for children under three years of age, at the expense of the republican budget. In addition, the regional healthcare department intends to conduct an active awareness campaign among economic entities about the need to purchase vaccines for flu vaccination for their employees. Healthcare institutions in the region will also purchase drugs for paid vaccination of individuals not included in the risk groups for flu morbidity. Doctor Sergey Tsyrkin once again reminded about simple and accessible means of preventing colds and flu: a healthy and active lifestyle, adherence to work and rest regimes, adequate nutrition, walking in fresh air, and a good mood. -0-