Starting Monday, Costa Rica Health official will begin a vaccination campaign against influenza or flu, targeting thousands in the annual prevention campaign.
The Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS) says it will commence on Friday the distribution of 450.000 vaccines to the medica centres – hospitals and clinics (known in Costa Rica as Ebais) around the country.
According to the CCSS, the vaccines are undergoing quality testing. Alexandra Chaves, head of the’Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones de la CCSS’, said the tests should be completed today.
Under the program the vaccines are available to the high risk population, which includes: children, the elderly, people with extreme obesity and those with cronic illnesses sich as heart and kidney problems, the diabetic and asthmatic.
Chaves explaine that priority will be given to patients with HIV and health care workers.
This year to date, 52 people have died due to respiratory virus, half of which are H1N1.
The last death from H1N1 was reported yesterday. The Ministry of Health says the death was of a 16 year old school boy in Alajuela,
