The flu is coming, and the vaccine isn't until October 31

Health centers should only receive the flu vaccine on the last day of October, although allegedly the first cases of this seasonal virus have already been laboratory-confirmed in institutes in the region, neighboring Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to data from the Institute for Public Health of Serbia, vaccination in that country in all health centers began on October 15, while in Croatia, Republika Srpska and Slovenia it is expected at the beginning of November. According to European media, the delivery of the quadrivalent vaccine manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, which is also used in Montenegro, will be delayed between one and two weeks in other countries as well due to "an unexpected delay in production".

Immunization against influenza in Montenegro started last year at the beginning of October, two years ago it was in the first half of October, and in 2016 at the end of the same month.

According to the contract between the Montefarm pharmacy and the Farmalab company dated September 5, the flu vaccine was supposed to be delivered in the middle of this month. Montefarm requested 22.700 doses of the vaccine and the tender requested that the maximum delivery date be October 15. The health system will allocate 158.900 euros for the necessary doses.

There is officially no flu in Montenegro yet. From October 7 to 13, according to the data of the Institute of Public Health, five people with flu-like symptoms were reported, but the Center for Medical Microbiology did not confirm a case of infection with this virus through the laboratory.

The Institute for Public Health said last week that the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention published the first weekly report on the trend of flu activity for the upcoming season on October 11.

"Influenza virus activity across the European region is at a low level. The presence of influenza types A and B is sporadically registered," the announcement reads.

The authorities said that vaccination is the best preventive measure and that all persons who are at increased risk of developing complications should be vaccinated.

"The vaccine can be received throughout the influenza surveillance season, but the best time to vaccinate is before the virus begins to spread in the population, given that it takes two to three weeks for antibodies to develop after vaccination."

The vaccine is recommended for all persons older than six months with chronic diseases of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems and kidneys, persons being treated for metabolic disorders such as diabetes, persons with reduced immune system function, including persons with HIV/AIDS, as well as and people who have transplanted organs or cells. The vaccine should also be given to people over 65 years of age, people living in collective housing, health workers - especially those in intensive care, neonatal care and inpatients for the chronically ill. The World Health Organization recommends the vaccine for pregnant women and children from six months to five years.

This year, 31 people died in Montenegro from complications caused by the flu virus, and only one, with a chronic illness, was vaccinated.

A small number of boxes of MMR vaccine have been recalled, there are sufficient quantities of it

Glossary CD this week recalled 84 boxes of the MMR vaccine because the instructions for healthcare workers were printed in an illegible font. This, as the company claims, cannot lead to shortages, because not even half of the annual vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella has been consumed. The health system has another 4.800 doses available.

The Glossary told "Vijesta" that parents should not worry about withdrawing part of the boxes, because the vaccine that children receive is produced according to the highest standards in the European Union and will be in sufficient quantities.