Vaccinate people against pandemic viruses
As with any infectious disease, the best way to protect people is to vaccinate them against it. This becomes all the more important when a pandemic flu virus against which a few people have any immunity spreads easily in communities and countries around the world. “Since the spread of the pandemic virus is considered unstoppable, vaccine will be needed in all countries,” observed a World Health Organisation (WHO) advisory group of experts on immunisation.
Assuming that only limited quantities of the vaccine will be available, the government must decide which categories of people should be given priority. The WHO advisory group has, for instance, recommended that health-care workers should be given first priority.
Pregnant women, children and primary school teachers form a vulnerable group who risk developing severe illness; they too should be given preference. It is time for the government to look at hard options and get proactive.
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