Vilnius city municipality intends to extend the distribution of iodine tablets for another month.
"Taking into account both the lower mobility of individuals due to quarantine restrictions and the creation of an opportunity potassium iodide tablets to be collected by persons who have newly declared their place of residence in the city of Vilnius, i.e. within the last two months, we plan to extend the e-prescriptions for another month," Mayor's adviser Ieva Dirmaitė told BNS on Wednesday.
According to the records center, about 17 thousand have been extended in the e-health system until January 190 of next year. validity of potassium iodide e.prescriptions.
The distribution of potassium iodide tablets was supposed to end on Thursday, December 17.
Initially, it was planned to distribute the pills during the month from October 20 to November 17, but when a large number of Vilnius residents did not do so, the validity of e-prescriptions was extended for a month.
Potassium iodide tablets in pharmacies, they are issued free of charge to all people who have declared their place of residence in the city of Vilnius and have submitted a document confirming their personal identity.
These tablets are distributed to the population as a preventive measure due to the start of operation of the Astrav nuclear power plant (NPP) in Belarus. They are designed to protect the thyroid gland from the harmful effects of radioactive iodine.
It is emphasized that Vilnius residents should use potassium iodide tablets only in the event of a nuclear accident in a neighboring country and only if such recommendations are made by competent state institutions.
It was previously announced that in the event of an accident at the Astravos nuclear power plant, which would result in the release of radioactive materials into the environment, the Lithuanian authorities would immediately inform the residents about this by sounding sirens, short warning messages to mobile phones and via radio, television and other means of public information.
In the event of such an emergency, it is recommended to close yourself indoors and wait for notifications from state authorities on what actions and measures to take to reduce the risk. At this stage, residents would also be informed about the need to take potassium iodide tablets.
In the event of a nuclear accident, the population is evacuated within a radius of 30 kilometers from the reactor.
According to the Vilnius municipality, since the country's capital is at a greater distance - 45 kilometers - from Astrabus, in the event of an emergency, the residents of Vilnius should first stay at home, not go outside, follow information on radio and television and wait for further instructions: whether to take pills, wear protective respiratory equipment , to evacuate.
In total, the Ministry of Health has distributed 4 million. potassium iodide tablets to 16 municipalities located 100 kilometers from the Astrav nuclear power plant in Belarus.
