8 December 2009 / TODAY’S ZAMAN , İSTANBUL
The Health Ministry announced on Monday that the number of deaths caused by the H1N1 virus, popularly known as the swine flu, has risen from 241 to 296 in the last three days across Turkey.
The ministry said the best way for the public to protect itself against the swine flu is to get vaccinated and also stressed that the swine flu vaccination is still free for all people in the country. The ministry once again warned people in high-risk groups, in particular pregnant women, children below the age of 2 and sufferers of chronic diseases, to go to a hospital when they begin to show symptoms of swine flu. Meanwhile, health centers started vaccinating pregnant women against swine flu on Monday. The 100,000 adjuvant-free swine flu vaccinations imported from Sanofi Pasteur of France will first be used at health centers and maternity hospitals. The shot will have a 0.5 millimeter dose of the vaccine, and pregnant women can receive it at any stage of their pregnancy. The vaccine takes effect 10 days after one receives the shot. Noting that the possibility of death as a result of swine flu is higher for pregnant women than other at-risk groups, the Health Ministry said for this reason all pregnant women should immediately receive the vaccination. As a defensive measure, hajj pilgrims, health workers, sufferers of chronic diseases and children from 6 months to 5 years were first to receive the swine flu shot.
