CNAM buys 100,000 flu shots to prevent epidemic

The National Health Insurance Company (CNAM) has bought 100,000 doses of influenza vaccine to prevent outbreaks of seasonal flu, traditionally lasting from December through March. The shots are to arrive in Moldova on October 25, Info-Prim Neo reports. The World Health Organization has already published the list of strains that are most likely to form this year's seasonal flu. Groups that are most at risk of falling ill will be immunized within two or three weeks to avoid a pandemic. CNAM director Mircea Buga said free shots will be given only to at-risk groups, including doctors, the elderly and children under 5, while other persons will be able to get a shot for a fair fee of 49 lei. “The impact of governmental policies on drug prices has been a common topic. In the case of vaccines, I would like to remark that, whereas in 2009 a shot had a price tag of 86 lei, this year we managed to obtain a price of 49 lei per shot. And we are not talking about poorer quality; we are talking here about the same vaccine”, said Mircea Buga. The vaccine bought this year by CNAM is produced in France.