Vaccine for docs

Since January,vaccines against swine flu have been procured from Sanofi Pasteur and out of a consignment of 10,000 only 4,000 have been utilised so far,state surveillance officer Dr Pradip Awate said.

The vaccine has been aimed at doctors and paramedics,who are always in close contact with patients. He admitted that there is some reluctance among the health workers,but no major side effects have been reported so far.

Awate said that anti viral medication is still proving effective against swine flu and apart from medication prescribed by the doctors,patients should take plenty of fluids,rest and do warm saline gargles.