A H1N1 vaccination starts next week

Staff Writer | Friday June 18, 2010 00:00

In a press release, the acting principal public relations officer, Tuduetso kelapile said the campaign will be rolled out in four phases with the first phase targeting health workers, officers of ports of entry, pregnant women, people with heart diseases, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and cancers aged 11 to 64 years.

Kelapile said the second phase will be targeting children aged six months to 10 years, while phase three targets 11 to 39 years and phase four targets all people above 39 years.

She revealed that everyone will be vaccinated except children under six months, those who are allergic to chicken eggs and those who have a history of reacting to other influenza vaccines.

'The ministry would like to reassure the public that this vaccine is safe and has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).  Like any other vaccine people may have common side effects such as pain, redness and swelling at the injection site.  If people experience any signs and symptoms that they suspect are due to the vaccine, they should report to the nearest health facility,' Kelapile said.

Kelapile called on the public to fully participate in this vaccine campaign by visiting the nearest health facility to get this vaccine.  The symptoms of influenza A H1N1 2009 pandemic are similar to those of seasonal flu.

The influenza is transmitted through coughing or sneezing by people with the disease, touching objects and surfaces contaminated with droplets containing influenza virus and touching secretions like saliva, mucus of an infected person. According to Kelapile once the virus is deposited on an object or surface, it can survive for 2-8 hours to infect another person.

She said to prevent the spread of Influenza A H1N1 pandemic, people who have signs and symptoms should stay home, cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, wash their hands regularly, and keep some distance from healthy people as much as possible. 'If the symptoms get worse they are advised to visit the nearest health facility. Another way to protect people from this flu is for them to be vaccinated,' Kelapile said.