People are afraid of Chernobyl and the nuclear attack. They buy iodine pills at pharmacies TVNOVINY.sk – TVNOVINY.sk

However, the Ministry of Health does not recommend people to supply them.

People started buying iodine tablets in pharmacies, as confirmed by the largest network of pharmacies in Slovakia and the Slovak Chamber of Pharmacy. Pharmacists of public pharmacies have been confronted with high interest in dispensing a drug containing potassium iodide since Friday (February 25).

“As this medicine is not available in pharmacies as standard and is not currently available from holders of wholesale medicine, it is not possible to comply with the requirements. Due to the nature of the effect of this drug, its use is currently irrelevant, “Chamber President Ondrej Sukeľ responded for TVNOVINY.sk.

The Ministry of Health reacted similarly, not recommending the use of these drugs as a prevention and supplying them at home. “Long-term use of iodine prophylaxis can endanger the cardiovascular system and damage the thyroid gland. In the event of a risk, the state will take all necessary steps in advance to protect the population, “explained the department’s spokeswoman Zuzana Eliášová.

The radiation situation is standard in our country

The Public Health Office continuously monitors the radiation situation in Slovakia, as well as the presence of radionuclides in individual components of the environment and the food chain. “The radiation situation is currently standard. So far, no deviations from the commonly measured values ​​have been recorded, “said Daša Račková, a spokeswoman for the office, to TVNOVINY.sk.

She made it clear that dozens of detection devices are evenly distributed throughout Slovakia, which they use to continuously monitor nuclides in the air. ÚVZ is ready to respond promptly to any changes and the presence of artificial radionuclides in the air and will inform the public immediately in the event of radiation changes.

“In recent days, we have noticed Dr. Max extremely increased demand for iodine tablets. Therefore, especially due to the unexpected increased interest, I can confirm that we record iodine tablet outages in the entire pharmacy network, perhaps with some local exceptions, “said the PR manager of the pharmacy network Dr. Max Peter Sedláček, adding that this is an assortment that is The network is currently communicating with the supply chain to stock this range, which should happen in the coming days.

The use of iodine prophylaxis is one of the protective measures in an emergency situation if a radiation event has occurred and radionuclides have leaked into the environment.

“Iodine prophylaxis, ie potassium iodide, is used to protect against the binding of radioactive iodine to the thyroid gland. Potassium iodide binds to the thyroid gland and saturates it with non-radioactive iodine. If internal contamination with radioactive iodine occurs and the person has used potassium iodide, the body will excrete radioactive iodine with body fluids (urine) and the thyroid gland will not be damaged, “Eliášová added.

After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, people began to fear a nuclear attack. Their fear was probably heightened by the decision of President Vladimir Putin, who on Sunday (February 27) issued an order to the army to state the so-called scary, that is nuclear forces on high alert.