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Patients infected with the swine flu virus increase daily and now 50% of the biological tests brought in labs are positive. Schools in the country close one after the other and now the total number is 126.

The chairwoman of the infection center Eleni Yamarelou said she is supporting vaccinations and said that in Sweden 2.9 million people have been vaccinated and only 39 people have suffered side effects. The worst side effects were fainting, eczema and in one case – swelling of the throat.

Solely by the fact that 20 people are hospitalized with severe bronchopneumonia, 13 out of them are in the ER and 9 are live-threatening, is enough to show that the flu is in its peak. Doctors have noticed that the risk groups are people with chronic diseases and if they are overweight, the situation is even worse.

Based on statistics the vaccinated people reached 4 076, which shows that people are still hesitating and even doctors are still overlooking the vaccine. Despite all experts are positive, because 10% of people who were vaccinated are in the risk group, which could be harmed worse by the flu.

Infectious disease specialist Panayotis Gargalianos said that medical staff needs to be vaccinated not only for their own good but because they can infect their patients by transferring the disease. He confirmed that all scientists believe that the vaccine is save, provides results and very important for limiting death cases. Form next week the Greek parliament will turn into a vaccine center – after November 23 all parliament members and staff will be able to get vaccinated.

Meanwhile Health Minister Mariliza Xenoyanakopoulou turned with an appeal to citizens to get vaccinated because “this is the way to protect public health and our own health as well.” Mrs. Xenoyanakopoulou revealed her acute resentment towards doctors and medical staff, who do not want to be vaccinated and said: “Very extreme statements reach us. Everyone has the right for an opinion but it is a question of responsibility, when scientists dissuade people not to be vaccinated. I hope we are exaggerating with the measures and with our worries about flu pandemic.”

The Health Minister noted that there is a trend for sudden increase of swine flu infected people in Northern Greece. As a result, more and more schools are closing in this region.