Flu inoculations gathering pace
Authorities began picking up the pace of preparations for the general public to start receiving the anti-H1N1 flu jab as of Monday after it was revealed that a large number of people from vulnerable groups, who are being inoculated this week, have been to vaccination centers. Opinion polls indicated marked skepticism among Greeks about the vaccine, with more than half saying they would skip the jab. However, almost 13,000 people were inoculated just yesterday, indicating that there may be more people than previously thought visiting hospitals and vaccination centers next week. This week, the voluntary inoculation program is open to those considered to be vulnerable, including people with chronic health problems, blood donors and those who look after children aged 6 months old or under. As a result, not all of the 600 vaccination centers that the government has slated to provide Greeks with the jab are up and running yet. Officials will spend the rest of the week getting them ready and setting up a website where people can log on, enter their address and learn the location of the closest center. At present, citizens can obtain information by ringing a special help line on 1135. The new website will have the address www.1135.gr. The City of Athens said jabs for members of vulnerable groups would begin today at seven municipal medical centers, which will be open between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Health Minister Mariliza Xenogiannakopoulou said the government’s aim is that a minimum of 30 percent of the country’s population should be inoculated against the potentially fatal virus. Five more people were admitted to intensive-care units around the country yesterday after contracting swine flu. These include a 35-year-old woman who is in the fourth month of pregnancy.
