The state secretary with the Health Ministry, professor Adrian Streinu Cercel who initiated and supported the national vaccination campaign, stated it is regrettable that a VIP had to die for people to understand that they need the vaccine. He admitted that he had not expected this spectacular increase in the demand, but voiced satisfaction with the results. The media gave extensive coverage to the topic, with reports presenting the long queues in front of vaccination centres across the country, and tried to find explanations for the phenomenon.

According to experts, the main causes include the inadequate information of the public, the distrust of healthcare personnel, who criticised the Romanian vaccine and did not want to receive the vaccine and the family doctors who did not support the campaign and did not order the vaccine. The daily Evenimentul Zilei gives a verdict: “The vaccine queues, a proof of distrust in healthcare institutions: people came to get the vaccine not thanks to the doctors’ recommendations, but after the death of an actor.” The daily Adevarul reads, in its turn, that “When the doctors were prepared, people had no confidence in the vaccine; when people showed up for the vaccine, medical facilities were closed.” Now the timing of the public, hospitals and healthcare personnel seems to have improved.

As the number of people willing to get the vaccine against AH1N1 has significantly increased in the past few days, healthcare authorities were quick to respond, and opened new vaccination centres in Bucharest and other cities, in schools, and universities. Family doctors ordered new vaccine doses and extended vaccination hours. So far over 250 thousand people have received the vaccine, mostly people who are considered to be more exposed to catching the virus such as the medical staff, high school students, police and gendarme workers. By the end of this month, the vaccination campaign will also cover children between 6 and 16 years of age.