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Fico: I Won't Have Myself Vaccinated Against Novel Flu
Tuesday 23 February 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, February 23 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico said on Tuesday that he doesn't intend to have himself vaccinated against novel flu, as he views the whole thing as a big game played out by pharmaceutical companies.
Fico noted that he doesn't trust vaccinations against the A/H1N1 virus. At the same time, he emphasised that this is only his personal view and that he believes that he won't be criticised for expressing it. He conceded that vaccinations may have some sense for high-risk groups.
Health Minister Richard Rasi, who was also present at the press conference at the Health Ministry and has had himself inoculated against the novel flu publicly, reacted by saying that he will try to persuade Fico to change his mind.
Based on the Government's consent, Slovakia bought one million vaccines against novel flu for €7.60 per vaccine in late 2009. Preference has been given to healthcare workers, people that ensure the running of the state - such as top politicians, police officers and the army; along with high-risk groups among the general public, such as pregnant women. Rasi announced earlier that after these groups have been inoculated, vaccinations will be made available to the wider public as well.
In total, 1,200 cases of novel flu have been recorded in Slovakia to date, with 51 deaths among people who had caught the virus.
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