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In most pharmacies in the capital, as well as in all Camelia pharmacies, all patients who have declared their place of residence in Vilnius can take potassium iodide tablets: 4 for adults and children from 12 years and 2 for children under 12 years old. upon presentation of an identity document) according to electronic prescriptions issued automatically (it is not necessary to consult a family doctor for this reason). Along with the tablets, the population receives instructions for use in Lithuanian, Russian, Polish and English.
Pharmacists emphasize that potassium iodide tablets should not be used prophylactically or voluntarily.
Prescriptions are valid for 30 days
The Vilnius City Municipality indicates that to write an email. The prescriptions are valid for 30 days, according to which the majority of the population will be able to withdraw the potassium iodide tablets before November 17. However, pharmacist R. Blyn advises that some patients were prescribed, for example, on October 12, so in this case these prescriptions are valid until November 11.
You can check at home if you have an electronic prescription and how long it is valid, you can log in to the eHealth system.
In the first week, more than 20,000 Camellia patients withdrew the potassium iodide pills, according to the report. The busiest day was October 21. (recalled over 6,000 patients), daily activity steadily decreased. In total, more than 200,000 packets of potassium iodide tablets (more than 2 million tablets) have been received from the Vilnius city pharmacies of the Ministry of Health.
Photo by Camelia / Rimvydas Blynas
“Last week when the media announced the distribution of potassium iodide tablets, it was really even more intense for pharmacists. The most active rushed to come take potassium iodide tablets, now I notice that the flow of patients is decreasing – says pharmacist R.Blyn. – Others have already forgotten about this possibility, but we remind those who visit the pharmacy and offer to take the pills. I urge you not to delay electronic prescribing. “
You will be notified if you need to take the tablets.
The pharmacist remembers that to collect potassium iodide tablets an identity document must be presented at the pharmacy. Patients who are logged into the eHealth portal can also authorize a family member or other close person to pick up the medication at the pharmacy.
R. Blyn emphasizes that the use of pills should be done only in the event of an accident at a nuclear power plant, which would inform the state authorities and inform about the need to take pills.
In the event of a possible nuclear accident, Vilnius residents would be warned in three ways: by audible sirens, short warning messages to mobile phones, and by radio, television and other media.
Potassium iodide tablets are being distributed due to the operation of the Astrava nuclear power plant in Belarus, which will start operations in November. Experts doubt the reliability of this power plant – there were several incidents during its construction, the quality of work is in doubt. The city of Astrava is 45 kilometers from Vilnius, so if an accident occurs at a nuclear power plant, people living within a radius of 100 km would be in danger due to the release of radioactive iodine into the atmosphere. Residents of the Vilnius district also enter this territory.
What is worth knowing?
“In the event of a nuclear accident, radioactive iodine can spread throughout our environment: when we breathe in contaminated air or eat contaminated food, radioactive iodine begins to accumulate in the thyroid gland, damaging it and often causing long-term thyroid cancer.” says Camelia Zach, Camelia pharmacist.
Potassium iodide tablets can protect against the harmful effects of radioactive iodine, since the stable iodine they contain accumulates in the thyroid gland and prevents radioactive iodine from entering it.
“Potassium iodide tablets only protect against radioactive iodine, but not against other substances released during a nuclear accident. Therefore, in an emergency, it would be mandatory to take not only this, but also other preventive measures, which would be recommended by the authorities in charge of handling the situation, ”says pharmacist K. Zacharevic.
Potassium iodide tablets for thyroid protection are used only when radioactive iodine particles are released into the environment and only after receiving recommendations from the Ministry of Health or other responsible state institutions.
“It is recommended to take these tablets less than 24 hours before, until possible inhalation or ingestion of radioactive iodine. Blocking the thyroid gland with potassium iodide is also effective 2 hours after exposure to the harmful substance, but not later. 8 hours. Otherwise, the use of potassium iodide can be harmful to the body, “says the pharmacist.
Zacharevich emphasizes that a single daily dose of potassium iodide tablets protects the thyroid gland from exposure to radioactive iodine for 24 hours. It should be taken with food and the amount in a single dose depends on the age of the person.
In case of an accident:
- newborns up to 1 month of age should receive a quarter tablet or 16 mg;
- for babies from 1 month to 3 years – half a tablet or 32 mg;
- for children 3 to 12 years: the full tablet or 65 mg;
- children from 12 years and adults: two tablets or 130 mg.
For alcoholic iodine solution and iodized salt – strict no
Zacharevich emphasizes that potassium iodide is the only preparation that should be used in an emergency to protect the thyroid gland. Neither iodine solution nor iodized salt will help protect the thyroid gland.
“The alcohol iodine solution is only for the skin, its active ingredient is not potassium iodide, but simply iodine, a toxic substance that can cause chemical burns in tissues, intoxication,” says the pharmacist. – Do not drink it even diluted in water. Although iodized salt helps to stimulate thyroid function, it is advisable to ingest about 1.5 kg of salt, equivalent to a dose of 130 mg of potassium iodide. Obviously, eating so much salt is strictly prohibited and this action can only harm your health ”.
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