The country is in the final stretch before the start of the seasonal flu vaccination program, with the president of the Athens-Piraeus Hospital Doctors’ Union (EINAP), Matina Pagoni, sending a clear message about the need to protect the population against viral infections, which are already on the rise.
Speaking to the radio station Mega News 104.6 on the show “Proino Predator” with Giorgos Kakousis and Vasilis Tsekouras, Pagoni set the start of vaccinations for mid-October. She also made an impression with her comments on the major issue of illegal clinics, proposing the creation of joint inspection teams that would even have the power to carry out raids.
Pagoni confirmed that the increase in viral infections being observed is fully expected for the season. As she explained, the official start of vaccinations has been set for October 15, with top priority given to vulnerable groups of the population who are most at risk of serious complications.
“Viral infections have increased slightly. We expected it. This is how we will live from now on, and we will get used to it. We have already gotten used to it after so many years,” she said, explaining the gradual order of priority:
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“First the high-risk groups for the flu vaccine, because they are the most vulnerable, and they are the ones who are hospitalized, intubated, and develop complications, pneumonia. Then younger people will follow, and then much younger people.”
The process has now been fully simplified, as citizens can get vaccinated directly at pharmacies. She also made special mention of the enhanced vaccine, stressing that it is intended for people over 65 with underlying conditions, as well as for transplant patients, in order to effectively strengthen their immune system.
“Breaking Down Doors”
Referring to recent revelations about illegal clinics and unqualified doctors offering cosmetic medicine services, the EINAP president admitted that it is difficult for medical associations to check the hundreds of complaints they receive. Prompted by the cases that have come to light, starting with the clinic on Karneadou Street, Matina Pagoni stressed that the existing inspection committees must be radically reorganized and given more powerful authority.
“Now that we have come to this, with the Mazonakis case, we must save the situation, and the committees must be set up somewhat differently. Besides the participation of doctors, there should also be people who can break down doors and carry out inspections, because we doctors can only go so far. We cannot go breaking down doors at clinics,” she pointed out, adding that after the uproar of recent weeks, 91% of illegal medical advertisements have already been taken down from the internet.
Tension rose during the discussion when the EINAP president focused on the need for patients themselves to carefully check where they go, citing cases where unqualified doctors illegally keep signs outside their offices.
“From now on, since we have all seen what is going on, patients should also look into things more carefully,” the EINAP president said, prompting an immediate reaction from the journalists, who argued that this approach shifts responsibility onto the victims and forces citizens to act as inspectors because official bodies are unable to enforce the law. Pagoni, however, defended the work of doctors’ disciplinary councils, noting that very strict penalties and dismissals have been imposed in the past on those who violated their oath and medical ethics.