Respiratory diseases on a downward trend in Romania

After two atypical flu seasons, due to restrictions imposed during the pandemic, Romania has this year seen an aggressive flu season when a few severe respiratory diseases have been reported mainly among children and vulnerable people.

The peak of the flu season was reached in the first part of this month and according to the National Institute of Public Health (INSP) the number of respiratory diseases is presently on a downward trend. 103 thousand infections were reported last week, which means only a quarter than in the previous one.

As compared to the weekly average of illnesses registered between 2015 - 2020, the number is still high, 21% higher. According to the INSP, out of the total number of infections, roughly five thousand were flu cases, most of them in Bucharest, Iasi, in eastern Romania, Cluj, in the north-west and Timis in the west of the country.

Statistics data show that since the beginning of the season, 36 people have lost their lives and roughly 1.5 million have got the anti-flu vaccine. Doctors say though the number is not enough and in order to be able to control an epidemic, 3.5 million vulnerable people should have got the jab. In order to support the population, authorities pledge that next year they will subsidize both the anti-flu vaccines and those lasting a lifetime mainly for people suffering from chronic diseases.

During a conference in Bucharest, Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, has voiced hope that he will see a different approach in terms of anti-flu vaccination next year, which may lead to the protection of a larger number of people. Until then, he says, the anti-flu vaccines, the Health Ministry purchased for this season, have been almost entirely used

Alexandru Rafila: "Pharmacies still have stocks of anti-flu vaccines. Of course this very much depends on the producers and suppliers. We have practically used up the entire quantity purchased by the Health Ministry. There are still small stocks at some family physicians but, practically the almost 1.5 million doses have been used. Vaccines are still available but not for a long time, you know, two or three more weeks. We will probably see a downward trend and get over this flu season, which, as compared to the previous years, kicked off much earlier this year." 

In turn, the president of the Health Commission with the Chamber of Deputies in Bucharest, Nelu Tătaru, believes vaccine subsidies aren't enough and the population must accept the prevention method.

Nelu Tătaru: "When it comes to vaccination I believe that subsidizing it is only a component. To convince people to accept the vaccination is the most important thing and I believe here the Ministry of Health and the physicians have a pretty difficult task: to kickstart the process of convincing the people about the role vaccination has."

 At the same time, authorities believe that more emphasis should be laid on the development of pre-hospital medical care as people's access to medical services should be eased.

(bill)