New Vaccination Campaign in Cuba

Havana, Nov 21. -Cuban health authorities will begin on Monday a new vaccination campaign against seasonal flu, in which more than one million people will be immunized.This was expressed by Doctor Luis Estruch, Deputy Minister of Hygiene and Epidemiology of the Public Health Ministry, who stated that respiratory infections are a global health problem, and in Cuba it ranks as the fourth cause of death.

Pregnant women between the second and third trimester, people with chronic cardiovascular and kidney diseases, immune-depressed persons, people with disabilities, those over 85 years old, as well as certain health staff will be immunized this time, Estruch said.

Some 600,000 doses of the anti-flu seasonal vaccine, a compound against three kinds of virus: H1N1, H3N2 and respiratory syncytial virus, the most frequent ones in the country, will be applied, Estruch said.

The physician said that it is important to maximize hygienic measures to prevent the flu from spreading, by covering the mouth and nose to sneeze or cough, and washing hands with soap and water frequently.

He also recommended not to stay in public places when sick, drink water and pay attention to any complication. (Prensa Latina)