Minister talks "anti-vaccination campaign"

Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic said that Serbia took financial risks to secure enough vaccines in order to protect the citizens from swine flu. He said that there have been too many negative campaigns, even by doctors, against the vaccine, adding that people are not taking very seriously the fact that Serbia is in the midst of an epidemic and that there could be massive infections. Minister talks "anti-vaccination campaign" “26 out of every 100,000 people die from the swine flu. For reasonable people, that is reason enough to get vaccinated,” Milosavljevic told daily Vecernje Novosti. He said that more than 47 million people have been vaccinated in Europe and that “it is working so effectively that people are starting to believe that it is not a natural virus but an artificially created one.” “That is the greatest misconception. There is a scientific answer for a challenge such as a pandemic. This is the first time in the history of civilization that it was uncovered immediately. In less than six months, a vaccine was created and it is very irresponsible for health workers to advise someone not to get vaccinated,” Milosavljevic said. He repeated that the vaccination can decrease the number of swine flu infections, serious cases and deaths. “The only reason we bought the vaccine and supported it financially beyond our abilities, was to secure protection for the population. If someone does not want to understand that, I cannot convince them,” Milosavljevic said. Health Minister Tomica Milosavljevic gets vaccinated (Tanjug archive)

Minister talks "anti-vaccination campaign"

“26 out of every 100,000 people die from the swine flu. For reasonable people, that is reason enough to get vaccinated,” Milosavljević told daily Večernje Novosti.

He said that more than 47 million people have been vaccinated in Europe and that “it is working so effectively that people are starting to believe that it is not a natural virus but an artificially created one.”

“That is the greatest misconception. There is a scientific answer for a challenge such as a pandemic. This is the first time in the history of civilization that it was uncovered immediately. In less than six months, a vaccine was created and it is very irresponsible for health workers to advise someone not to get vaccinated,” Milosavljević said.

He repeated that the vaccination can decrease the number of swine flu infections, serious cases and deaths.

“The only reason we bought the vaccine and supported it financially beyond our abilities, was to secure protection for the population. If someone does not want to understand that, I cannot convince them,” Milosavljević said.