As the number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis increased this year, Vilnius city municipalities vice mayor Valdas Benkunskas today addressed the Minister of Health Aurelijs Verygas, urging him to take immediate decisions on the prevention of tick-borne diseases.
In the appeal to A. Verygas, it is emphasized that this year in Lithuania, the number of cases of tick-borne encephalitis has increased by almost a third. Attention is drawn to the fact that the risk group for tick-borne encephalitis has not yet been specified, and the vaccine is not even partially compensated by state funds. It is also emphasized that the vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis is still not included in the preventive vaccination calendar for children, although in 2019-2023 the national immunoprophylaxis program indicates this.
The vice-mayor of the capital, Valdas Benkunskas, urges the Minister of Health A. Verygas to immediately include vaccinations against tick-borne encephalitis in the children's preventive vaccination calendar, to name specific risk groups of tick-borne encephalitis and to create opportunities to compensate for vaccinations for all residents of the country who want to be vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis.
"We know of several role models that we could rely on in the fight against the problem of tick-borne encephalitis. in Austria almost 40 years ago. universal vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis was introduced. Today, about 85% of the population is vaccinated there, and the incidence falls 6-7 times every year. It is clear that the naming of specific risk groups and at least partial compensation of the vaccine for those who want to get vaccinated would significantly reduce the number of infections in Lithuania", the vice mayor emphasized in his address to A. Verygas V. Benkunskas.
The municipality of the capital ensured that employees of municipal enterprises and institutions who are in the high risk group and work in outdoor conditions are vaccinated against tick-borne encephalitis. Urges to vaccinate employees to be sent to all private companies with contracts with the municipality, whose employees' direct work activities are related to work in nature. This call is based on the Occupational Safety and Health Act of the Republic of Lithuania and the 2004 Decree of the Minister of Health Protection. signed order, which states that the employer, having assessed the risk of an employee contracting an infectious disease at a specific workplace, must provide conditions and at his own expense to vaccinate all employees whose activities are related to work in nature (when working in the forest, garden, green spaces of the city, outdoor areas of educational institutions , in the yards of residential houses, etc.).
"Our municipal institutions and companies with the highest concentration of employees working in conditions of increased risk take a responsible approach to prevention and vaccination. However, we want to call on private companies with which the Municipality cooperates to take a more responsible view of the threat of tick-borne encephalitis and immediately vaccinate their employees working in risky conditions", noted V. Benkunskas.
The municipality of the capital is also starting an active public information campaign, which will aim to educate Vilnius residents about the threat of diseases caused by tick bites and encourage vaccination, emphasizing the benefits of vaccination as the most effective means of protecting against tick-borne encephalitis.
July. Increased incidence rates of tick-borne encephalitis were recorded in Lithuania - 136 cases of the disease were identified, 2 people died.
