Fewer flu cases at schools

THE EDUCATION Ministry yesterday said that H1N1 cases at schools had decreased over the last few days, following an upsurge in November.

“There was an increase of new flu cases at schools in November, but as we had expected the number of cases has fallen since the beginning of December,” said Yiannis Kasoulides, Health and Safety Officer at the Ministry.

Commenting on reports by schools that there is a shortage of liquid disinfectants, Kasoulides said that maintaining an adequate supply of necessary items is the obligation of individual school managements. “Where there are shortages school administrations should inform the Ministry,” Kasoulides added.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Health Christos Patsalides yesterday reiterated the decision that private pediatricians will not be administering H1N1 vaccinations to children, highlighting that vaccines should be given to the public for free.

“The planning for the vaccination programme was based on guidelines provided by the World Health Organisation and the European Control Centre. According to this information, the state must offer vaccinations for free as it is our obligation during a pandemic to provide proper care,” Patsalides said.

“Such care should be given to protect the public and not for the purposes of making a profit,” he added.

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