The Minister of Health has officially announced a last-minute decision for the first time for all of Romania, and as you can see below, it has an impact on millions of Romanians throughout the country because we are talking about the decision that the flu vaccine will arrive earlier this year in the country.
The Minister of Health also says that there is currently no combined vaccine for Coronavirus and flu, but also that Romanians who are infected and asymptomatic, after the 5 days in which they should be in isolation, should wear a protective mask if they decide to leave the house, so as not to infect other people.
"Asymptomatic patients are considered that after 5 days, if they are vaccinated, or 7 days if they are not vaccinated, they are not contagious, but as a precautionary, rational measure, they should use a mask for a few more days, until another possible test becomes negative. There are other European countries that accept the circulation of those who are positive, if they are asymptomatic, but on the condition of using a mask.
No, it is not a combination vaccine, it is a discussion for the coming years, if such a vaccine can be obtained. Vaccination against influenza in the categories at risk means people over 65, those with comorbidities and pregnant women are kept.
Last year was a campaign that was less successful, because the influenza virus, thanks to the measures taken against the infection with the new coronavirus, circulated less. There are signs that this year the flu season will be a more serious one, given the monitoring in the southern hemisphere, because it is now the cold season in the southern hemisphere.
For the first time, I would say, we will have the flu vaccine available from the end of September to the beginning of October, so that family doctors have time at their disposal and the population has time at their disposal to vaccinate in an effective interval, no longer we end up in the situation where we bring the flu vaccine and give it to GPs in January when the obvious interest is waning and the effectiveness is less.
It was ordered according to evolution and according to absorption from the previous year. I took this consideration into account. Initially, we will make a purchase of 1,5 million doses. To the extent that there will be greater demand, we will fill it. Yes, last year in 2021, 2,5 million doses were ordered and 1,5 million doses were used. We are ordering 1,5 million doses as much as was used in the previous year."
