Social Minister Dismisses Flu Panic Speculations
During the final week of 2010, four people in Estonia had been diagnosed with the H1N1 flu strain, also known as swine flu. Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur dismissed speculations of the state's inadequate response.
"Some of last year's vaccine is still left, and this year the swine flu vaccine component is already included in the seasonal flu vaccine," Pevkur told ERR radio.
There is also a sufficient supply of medicine to treat those who are infected, according to Pevkur. Everyone who was vaccinated for H1N1 last year should still be immune. Last year, the swine flu or resulting complications killed 20 in Estonia.
Late in 2009, the social ministry ordered 248,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, offering free vaccination for risk groups like medical workers and pregnant women, plus everyone under the age of 18 and seniors. However, the bulk of the order arrived only when the flu had begun to subside, and 32.2 percent of the ordered vaccine, which had a short shelf life, had to be destroyed in 2010.
A recent survey commissioned by the Health Board revealed that only 3 percent of respondents would get the seasonal flu vaccination this winter, with 68 percent having decided against it.
Those uninterested in the vaccination cited a lack of trust in its efficiency (42 percent) and a fear of hazardous side effects (20 percent); others reject vaccinations on principle (24 percent).