Distrust of vaccines? Only 9 people have been vaccinated against avian influenza

Nine people at risk have benefited from the opportunity to be vaccinated against avian influenza, the National Public Health Centre (NVSC) told BNS.

„From January 2025, when the vaccination started, to 1 December this year, nine people in Lithuania have been vaccinated with the vaccine „Aflunov“, – said in a commentary sent by the NVSC.

According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccines purchased the year before will expire in July 2026.

„The need for new vaccines will be assessed – one of the important criteria will be the low vaccination coverage“, – the advisor of the ministry's communication department, Julian Gališanski, told BNS.

According to him, information about the possibility of getting vaccinated with the vaccine against bird flu has been distributed to workplaces where people with occupational risks work, training sessions have been organised, and the information is also published on the website of the National Centre for National Health Service (NVSC).

According to Mr Gališanskis, Lithuania is no different from other European countries, where the uptake of the vaccine against avian influenza is also slow.

„The most important reasons for the sluggishness of vaccination are: insufficient understanding of the risk of infection and disease, contradictory information or even misinformation in the public space about vaccination, its effectiveness and safety“, – said in a commentary sent to BNS.

Additional communication activities are planned to be carried out in the near future in order to raise awareness of the vaccine and its importance among people at risk, he said. 

„Aflunov“ vaccine is intended for persons aged 18 years and over who are at occupational risk of contracting avian influenza due to close contact with birds or animals, their carcasses or carcasses.

At risk are employees of poultry farms, veterinary clinics and research institutions, zoos and museums, foresters, ornithologists.

„Aflunov“ is currently the only vaccine available for human use against avian influenza.

Lithuania purchased 2,000 doses of the vaccine in December 2024. Since two doses are needed per person, this is enough to vaccinate 1,000 people.

The State Food and Veterinary Service has confirmed outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza this year in the districts of Šilutė, Kaisiadorys, Raseiniai, Kretinga, and the municipality of Marijampolė.

There have been reports of human cases and deaths from avian influenza abroad.

Bird flu is usually contracted by people through direct contact: close contact with infected birds or animals or their body fluids, tissues, faeces; contaminated environmental objects; ingestion and inhalation of the virus; and through the upper respiratory tract and the eyes.

No human cases of avian influenza have been reported in Lithuania so far.