Czech Republic announces swine flu vaccination strategy

2009-10-01

Chronically ill and vulnerable Czech patients will be the first to be inoculated against the A(H1N1) influenza virus, according to a vaccination strategy recently announced by the country’s Health Ministry.
The Czech Republic will have at its disposal 1 million swine flu vaccine units, which will be administered in two doses. This means that 500,000 Czech citizens will be inoculated in total.
Among the first group of 250,000 patients who will receive the vaccine will be those suffering from chronic bronchitis, diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, allergic alveolitis and serious cases of asthma, among other ailments. The vaccine will also be available to women with a high risk pregnancy in the second or third trimester, to patients with artificial heart valves, who received the implants in the last 12 months, and to patients with moderate and severe heart problems.
Another 500,000 vaccination doses will be distributed among 250,000 healthcare professionals and others involved in the smooth running of the state: e.g. police officers, people working in social services and those in the energy industry.
The vaccinations will start in the second half of October.