Vaccination campaign launched in Transnistria

A campaign to vaccinate the population against pandemic flu started in the Transnistrian region on January 12. There were identified 15 risk groups that will be the first to be immunized. 12,400 vaccines have been prepared for these groups, Info-Prim Neo's corespondent in Tiraspol reports. Simion Shincariuc, the chief sanitary inspector of Transnistria, said the people are vaccinated free of charge in hospitals and clinics. The vaccine does not produce side effects and is tolerated well. According to the official, the vaccines can be combined. The vaccine against A (H1N1) pandemic influenza can be administered in a month after giving the vaccine against seasonal flu. They have a guaranteed effect during 12 months. Afterward, the immunity to the virus decreases gradually. Specialists of the local Hygiene and Epidemiology Center said the persons younger than 16 and those who suffered from pandemic flu will not be vaccinated. A number of 190 cases of pandemic flu and 16 cases of death caused by this disease had been confirmed in the Transnistrian region by January 10.