AH1N1 Vaccination
Starts Monday
The199.300 doses of the AH1N1 vaccine that
was delayed for two months in arriving to
Costa Rica finally made it last night and
will begin distribution on Monday to
patients identified as being in the high
risk group, that includes pregnant women and
health care professionals.
The vaccine was to have arrived in Costa
Rica in December, but delayed due to a
strike at the production factory in France.
The vaccine is now in the hands of the
Ministerio de Salud (Health ministry) and
will be up to the Caja Costarricense de
Seguro Social (CCSS) to distribute it free
of charge.
Although only those who subscribe to the
Caja (public health system,) both Costa
Ricans and foreigners, Costa Rica will not
turn its back on foreigners not subscribing
to the Caja can receive the vaccine by
presenting a doctor's note to the local
EBAIS - Caja run clinics around the country
- to request the vaccine.
The ministra de Salud, Maria Luisa Avila,
warned that any vaccine sold by pharmacies
in Costa Rica prior to yesterday does not
specifically target the AH1N1 flu virus in
the same way the vaccine thatr arrived last
night.
Avila said that another 300.000 doses are
expected to arrive in the coming month and
no delays in delivery are expected, though
it is unknown if the request will be filled
before the start of the expected second wave
of the virus hits the country.
Costa Rica is acquiring the vaccine from the
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and
distributed free of charge.
A total of 1.847 cases of the AH1N1 and 50
deaths have been confirmed since the first
wave hit Costa Rican last May.
A total of 1.6 million doses have been
requested |
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