Romania’s Health Min Allots 1.34M AH1N1 Vaccine Doses For Certain Population Categories

Romanian Health Ministry’s Coordination Committee decided Monday on the categories of population who should benefit first from vaccination against the AH1N1 virus, and 1.34 million doses will be used on healthcare staff, students and militaries.

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Health Ministry secretary of state Adrian Streinu-Cercel said Monday the committee established the main categories of population that should undergo vaccination against the AH1N1 virus starting November 26, using the vaccine produced by the Romanian Cantacuzino Institute.

Thus, of the 1.34 million doses of vaccine, 140,000 will be used to immunize about 70% of the healthcare staff, one million doses will go to students in universities and high schools and about 200,000 doses will be distributed to special services such as the Army, the Border Police and the Interior Ministry.

Streinu-Cercel said the only efficient fight against the AH1N1 virus is vaccination.

The vaccine doses will be delivered to local public health authorities, which will further distribute them to family doctors and to doctors in schools to start immunization.

Interim Health Minister Adriean Videanu said recently the vaccine will be transported under military surveillance.

Streinu-Cercel said early November the vaccination against the AH1N1 virus is recommended but is not compulsory, adding a responsible attitude in this respect will reflect in the future reports of infections.

Streinu-Cercel said the vaccine produced by the Cantacuziono Institute observe international standards, adding that the institute will produce about five million vaccine doses by the end of the year, and in 2010 other five million doses will be produced. The costs for the ten million vaccine doses are estimated at 50 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2809).

Health authorities estimate children will be vaccinated starting January 2010, as testing procedures are more complicated.

Romania has registered a first fatality due to the AH1N1 virus.

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