PUNE: Free vaccination of over 1 lakh high-risk individuals against swine flu has helped contain the disease spread in the state this year so far.The state has recorded 38 swine flu (H1N1) cases and eight deaths due to the disease this year so far. Between January and July last year, the number of cases and deaths stood at 2,922 and 322, respectively, in Maharashtra A senior state health official attributed this drastic drop in the number of cases and deaths to the free vaccination initiative, under which 1.13 lakh high-risk people, including pregnant women, were immunized against the contagion.To scale up vaccination, the department has directed health officials to start free swine flu vaccination of high-risk individuals even at railway and ESIC hospitals, government medical colleges and state-run healthcare centres. Health officials have also started free vaccination centres at rural and sub-district hospitals, besides district health centres.“It is seen that a large number of people succumbing to swine flu also suffered from other associated illnesses (co-morbid conditions). Therefore, covering such ‘at risk’ people in the vaccination programme is a prudent step,” state surveillance officer Pradip Awate said.Health activists, however, said the vaccination alone won’t help. “The health department should also focus on educating people about adopting precautionary measures, including frequent washing of hands. But not much is being done on this front,” activist Sanjay Dabhade said.

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