Elderly people, a group at high risk for influenza life threatening Get vaccinated before it’s too late

The elderly are an important risk group that must be monitored for influenza. Especially for those with chronic illnesses, it can result in complications and be life-threatening. Doctors recommend vaccination every year to prevent the risk.

In 2023, there were reports of more than 300,000 Thai people suffering from influenza. Medical experts believe that the actual number of cases may exceed one million. Because it can be infected all year long. You can get sick again in the same year if you don’t get the flu vaccine. Reveals that the elderly are at risk of serious complications that can even lead to death. Because they are a fragile group and also have congenital disease Recommend that the government increase the number of free vaccines for seniors 65 years and older and expand the group of older children to receive the vaccine because they have a higher chance of being infected with influenza and spreading the disease. Emphasizing that vaccines are cost-effective, cost-effective and have been accepted for more than 80 years.

Prof. Dr. Sasisophin Kiattiburanakul Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University Provide information that the elderly are often a high-risk group due to 3 main factors:

As a result, the elderly cannot fight germs like they did when they were young. Makes it easy to have a chance of infection. Including if infected then it can be severe.

Some elderly people may have emphysema. When sick with influenza, it causes shortness of breath. or there is an infection in the lungs and symptoms are more severe than normal Or some people may have existing heart disease. Being sick with influenza may make your heart disease worse as well. or if you are sick with diabetes It will cause the body’s immune system to be poor. Because the cells that are going to eat germs will not work well. All of which cause complications due to the presence of other diseases.

Elderly people often have symptoms of eating less. Not being able to eat all 5 food groups can easily result in disease. Including severe disease easily

This factor is therefore an important reason why ‘elderly people’ should get the flu vaccine. To reduce the severity of the disease Reduce the incidence of pneumonia from viruses entering the lungs. Reduce illness that requires hospital admission and reduce death Due to the practice of protecting against infectious diseases in daily life, such as wearing a mask. Frequent hand washing and staying away from infected people It will not be possible all the time. Or if you do it, you still have a chance of getting sick as well.

Infectious Diseases Association of Thailand It is recommended that everyone should get the flu vaccine. It can be injected from age 6 months and up. Currently, Thailand has 2 types of influenza vaccine:

Contains 15 micrograms of antigen per strain per dose. Can be injected from 6 months of age up to the elderly.

Contains 60 micrograms of antigen per strain per dose. It is another option for seniors aged 65 years and over because studies have found that it reduces symptomatic infections more than the standard dose of influenza vaccine by approximately 24 percent and also reduces hospital admissions from influenza and pneumonia more than the standard dose. standard Including reducing deaths from influenza higher than the standard dose. There may be slightly more pain at the injection site than the standard dose.

Assoc. Prof. (Special) Dr. Thawee Chotipitayasunon The president of the Foundation for the Promotion of Influenza Education revealed that influenza vaccination does not need to wait one year. Every year, the new season’s vaccine comes in between April and May. You can come and inject immediately. Just keep a distance of at least 6 months from the previous vaccine. For those in high-risk groups designated by the government, they can get the shot for free at government nursing services. Or ask the Department of Disease Control hotline 1422. Those who are not at risk can get the injection at government and private service units. You will have to take care of your own expenses.

“Influenza is a disease that has outbreaks every year, but in the past 2-3 years there has been an outbreak of COVID-19. This caused the influenza disease to be avoided and temporarily distanced. In addition, the general public did not develop immunity against this disease and had measures to prevent COVID-19 until in 2023, it was clearly seen that a large number of people were sick with influenza. According to a report from the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), from January to October 2023, more than 300,000 patients were found, of which 21 died. But in reality, the number of patients may be more. Because those with mild symptoms did not seek treatment or treatment at the clinic, it was not reported. Therefore, it is believed that this year there may be millions of people who are sick with influenza.”

From historical influenza data in Thailand It is different from countries in the northern hemisphere such as the United States, Europe, Japan, and Korea where influenza outbreaks occur only during the winter. By summer the disease will all be gone. For Thailand, it is at the equator. Therefore, influenza can be found throughout the year. But more patients will be found during the rainy season. Because there is high humidity It’s raining and people gather in groups. students start school term This causes influenza to spread and schoolchildren will bring the influenza virus into their families and the elderly at home. which the group of children is It is ‘at risk’ and is often more severe among young children.

While elderly people who are sick with influenza may have very severe symptoms, they are called a ‘risk group’. Young people can also get sick, but most of them are not severe. It can be seen that influenza can affect all age groups. And this disease will be with us forever. The influenza vaccine is therefore beneficial for people of all ages.