Galery

1

As proposed by the Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, the Greek government decided that the whole Greek population will be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. Everybody will be vaccinated, including all permanent foreign residents and the illegal immigrants. Due to the fact that people cannot be forced with a law to get vaccinated, the immunization will take place only after a person fills out an application form. The vaccine will be free, because the state will spend €24 million from the state budget for its purchase.

As GRReporter already told you, Greece is one of the first countries, which will receive the vaccine, whenever it is ready and approved by the European Commission. The first shipment is expected to arrive on September 15. Greek Health Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos announced that the global medical ellite is still not clear on hoe the pandemic will develop but it is expected that the new flu will infect 30 to 40 percent of the world population. For Greece he said that 95% of the infected cases have successfully treated and the serious cases are only 4.

The minister announced the creation of a new 24/7 phone line (1135), which will service citizens and institutions, who want to receive information and advices, connected to the new virus. Greece will immediately hire new medical staff and will equip the ERs with 100 new beds for intensive care. Dimitris Avramopoulos stressed one more time that the panic is the worst advisor and that there is no need for people to change their lifestyles because of the new flu.

Experts advise regular hand washing with soap and water and whenever this is not possible - wet, rich in alcohol towels. According to epidemiologists a key role of personal hygiene is for the hands not to touch the lips, nose and eyes and to use disposable wipes and not cloth napkins.