This year the flu started circulating earlier than expected. According to an epidemiological alert from the Ministry of Health of the Nation, a significant increase in the number of cases of influenza A of the H3N2 group was detected, when the rise in the number of infections is usually detected during the fall and winter. For this reason, the start of the influenza vaccination campaign is eagerly awaited in order to protect, above all, the risk groups, and then continue with the rest of the population that wishes to be inoculated.
The national health portfolio will begin to receive between this Friday and Monday March 21 the first delivery of influenza vaccines. “The delivery of nearly 1,120,000 doses of influenza vaccines was possible after taking the necessary steps in order to have the doses as soon as possible. Once the logistics conditioning process has elapsed, the vaccines will start being distributed to all 24 jurisdictions early next week”, they explained from the portfolio led by Carla Vizzotti.
Vaccination in Rosario
The seasonal outbreak of influenza was brought forward throughout Argentina, in line with other South American countries, with symptoms very similar to the coronavirus. in the next few hours Influenza vaccines will arrive at pharmacies in Rosario, and in a few days the free and mandatory annual official campaign for risk groups will also begin.
Influenza vaccines for individuals will arrive in Rosario in the next few hours, as confirmed by pharmacists, although will be available for placement (in the order of 4 thousand pesos, or for social work in some cases) from next week.
It’s about the dosis tetravalentes (with protection against four variants of influenza, including H3N2), while the trivalent ones that make up the official annual calendar (free and mandatory) will only be ready for the end of March: between this Friday and Monday the 21st, the first installment of 1,120 will arrive. 000 doses that will begin to be distributed to the provinces next week.
The flu vaccine is free and compulsory for pregnant and postpartum women, the population over 65 years of age, girls and boys from 6 to 24 months of age, and those between 2 and 64 years of age who present risk factors.
risk groups
The groups that have included the flu vaccine in the National Vaccination Calendar are the pregnant, which can be applied in any trimester of pregnancy. In that case, the vaccine protects both the mother and the baby (through the passage of antibodies through the placenta).
Another group are children from 6 to 24 months, which should be inoculated with two doses separated by at least four weeks if they have not already received two doses of the influenza vaccine before. If they have received them, they will have to apply only one dose.
Then there are the risk groups that have an indication to receive the vaccine, such as people with underlying diseases (diabetes, immunodeficiencies, transplant patients, among others) and older than 65 years. In addition, health personnel will also have to be vaccinated against the flu. However, according to Teijeiro, anyone who wants to “protect themselves from the virus” can get vaccinated.
“The risk groups yes or yes should be inoculated because they are the ones that are most in danger of the diseasebut that does not mean that anyone who wants to be protected cannot go to a vaccination course and get vaccinated against the flu, there is no contraindication in that sense”, indicates the specialist.
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