Azerbaijan, Baku, February 9 / Trend /
Vaccination against the "swine flu" A (H1N1) virus in Azerbaijan was supported a number of organizations, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Red Crescent Society - Azerbaijan, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the Vishnevskaya-Rostropovich Foundation (RVF), the project of reforms in the health sector in Azerbaijan, as well as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Health Ministry of Azerbaijan reported on Feb. 9.
To carry out vaccination amongst the population of Azerbaijan, 172,000 doses of vaccine, as well as syringes and other supplies were delivered to the country in line with the WHO from 8 to 15 January, which were distributed to cities and regions of the country by 29 January, the ministry said.
It is known that the vaccination is the most effective means to prevent infection during the virus, since vaccine leads to increasing immunity of the organism.
The Health Ministry of Azerbaijan has identified priority groups of population for vaccination: employees of medical institutions, medical personnel of all state institutions, customs officers, women in the third trimester of pregnancy, because in this period there is a high probability of virus infection, adolescents from 14 to 17 years (pupils of 8-11 forms), and those with chronic lung disease.
Vaccination of this contingent of the population will continue until the last phase of vaccination [currently the first stage is continuing in the country]. Vaccination of large groups will be conducted by visiting teams, the teams with few employees by outpatient clinics. Vaccination of pregnant women and patients with chronic lung diseases will also be conducted in outpatient clinics.
Despite that the vaccination is most effective mean, it is conducted in limits, so everyone should wash their hands regularly with soap, cover their mouth when they cough and sneeze, if they feel bad, it is desirable not to go to work or training that helps prevent infections of others, the report said.
More information about pandemic flu can be obtained at the following contact numbers from the press service of the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan: 498-10-77, 498-23-84, 050 315-45-99, as well as by e-mail www.health.gov.az and the Baku office of the WHO - 498-98-88 (159) and at http://www.who.int