Monkey line, meeting of the Committee of Experts: Vaccination for close contacts

2022-05-30 11:38:17Aktualitet SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX

Monkey line, meeting of the Committee of Experts: Vaccination for close contacts

The National Technical-Advisory Committee on Immunization at the Institute of Public Health met on Monday morning to take precautions for the monkey pox virus.

The Minister of Health and Social Protection, Ogerta Manastirliu, participated in this meeting, where she spoke about the plan of public health measures for this situation.

The Committee of Immunization Experts has recommended the smallpox vaccine for close contacts and health personnel, in case of cases of monkeypox.

" The Committee of Vaccination Experts has taken a decision, in the form of a recommendation, to enable that in terms of close contacts of cases, which can be diagnosed with monkey pox, the smallpox vaccine can be used. A vaccine, which has an efficacy, as studies show, about 85% in terms of protection from monkey pox. It is estimated by our experts that it will be a quantity, which for this phase will be dedicated to very close contacts or even medical staff, who may be facing this disease ", said Manastirliu.

As part of the measures taken, Manastirliu said that preparations are being made for the diagnosis of monkey pox in the IPH laboratory, while he indicated that he is currently cooperating with reference laboratories.

" We are preparing with the Institute of Public Health that, through the PCR method, we can have in Albania exactly the primary samples, which can identify in our country, in this laboratory of IPH, the diagnosis of smallpox monkey. Currently, we are collaborating with reference laboratories in London and the Netherlands, to enable samples that may be suspected to be referred immediately, as we do with various cases of Covid-19 variants. ", Announced Manastirliu.

Although Albania is a low-risk country in terms of monkey pox, Manastirliu stressed that there is increased active surveillance. 

" As experts point out, we are a country with a low risk. But we, as we have made available for all infectious diseases, active surveillance throughout the country, even as regards monkey pox, we have established an active active surveillance, as far as the whole sentinel network is concerned. All the necessary trainings have been performed on the medical staff in primary care, in the Local Health Care Units, to enable the timely identification of cases, which are then, through reference laboratories, evaluated and seen if there will be cases of smallpox. of the monkey ", said Manastirliu.

Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases at IPH, prof. Silva Bino, underlined that aphid disease has a low risk for the general population and vaccination is effective for at-risk groups.

" On the issue of smallpox, the Committee of Experts on Vaccination has met, has reviewed the current situation in the world, the risk to the population, normally the risk to the general population is low, not only in our country but in all European Union countries. In addition to other measures such as isolation and other measures for a disease to be transmitted through contact or large sprays, the Committee has decided on the use of the vaccine. Monkey pox does not have a specific vaccine, but it is thought that the vaccine, which is used for smallpox or smallpox as it is popularly known, is a vaccine that is 85% effective in preventing the disease, or in preventing severe forms. of the disease. " For this reason, it was discussed that for at-risk groups we have the opportunity to be vaccinated ," Bino said.


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