Swine flu vaccine to be for more Czechs - Health Minister

"There is no drama, no crisis in the Czech Republic," Juraskova said.

"The virus is easy to understand, it constantly behaves in the same way," Juraskova said.

"Its clinical development is not serious among the crushing majority of patients," she added.

Some general practitioners will receive the vaccines later today or on Friday, Juraskova said.

"Every GP will obtain a package and health insurance companies have drawn up the lists and they will send invitations to patients. From the next week on, vaccination may start," she added.

A total of 95,000 doses of the vaccine are already in the Czech Republic and the vaccination is to start after Sunday, Juraskova said.

Chief sanitary officer Michael Vit said the morbidity in the Czech Republic had not crossed the epidemic threshold of 2000 per 100,000 population.

At present, it stands at 1520 ill per 100,000 population, Vit said, adding that it grew from 12 to 20 percent, especially among those aged 16-24, over the past week.

"The Czech Republic is copying the incidence in Europe," Vit said.

The number of vaccinated people who ensure the country's crucial spheres will be increased, Juraskova said, adding that this would relate to tens of thousands of them.

The vaccine will be given to the crucial staff in transport, energy and water management, some regional civil servants, members of emergency bodies and the national security council, Juraskova said.

Antivirotics are prepared for another 2.5 million people, Juraskova said, adding that antibiotics were to be applied to treat flu complication, the most frequent bacterial lung inflammation.

The swine flu incidence has almost doubled in the Czech Republic in the past week. About 500 cases have been confirmed.

Chief sanitary officer Michael Vit expects a swine flu epidemic to strike in mid- or late-December.

For capacity reasons, not all ill and those suffering from cold are tested for swine flu any longer, Juraskova said.

Two Czechs have died from swine flu, but both of them also suffered from other, very serious diseases.

Several schools in the Czech Republic have been temporarily closed over the swine flu infection.

Author: ČTK
www.ctk.cz