Last week the Ministry of Health confirmed that, as in the rest of the country, the influenza A virus is already circulating in the province and that they expected the cases to begin to increase. Yesterday, and in this context, Fabio Muñoz, head of Immunizations, said that the flu vaccination will begin next Friday, that it will be staggered and that the first to receive their dose will be the people who work in health. “We hope that tomorrow or the day after tomorrow – for today or tomorrow – the first doses will arrive in San Juan so that we can distribute them to all the departments,” said the specialist. Until last Friday, San Juan had 6 positive cases of influenza A and they said they expected that figure to increase over the weekend. However, they did not give official information on whether or not the cases increased. “We are working on putting together the strategy, but we already know that it will start with the group of health workers. This, from Friday, in all the departments,” Muñoz said and commented that the vaccination will be at first in health centers throughout San Juan.
Regarding the rest of the risk group, made up of people over 65 years of age, pregnant women, children under 2 years of age and those with chronic diseases, Muñoz said that they will gradually be incorporated into vaccination. “As the doses come in, we are going to enable new groups. We have the logistics already prepared to start the distribution and we want people to attend the vaccination. If more doses for adults or children come in next week, we will immediately start with those people,” he added, saying they still don’t know how many doses they will get in the first batch.
On the requirements for vaccination, he said that health personnel, whether they work in the public or private sector, must prove their condition to receive the flu. “At first, vaccines will be distributed to health centers. We want people to return to these institutions. Due to the pandemic, they stopped attending health centers and primary care is very important. In case we receive many doses , we will also distribute them later in the covid vaccination centers to do the job faster, “added the official and stressed that the “interdose time” between the flu and the covid is no longer required. That is, you can place both at the same time.
- Recommendations and symptoms
Influenza viruses primarily affect the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and occasionally the lungs. They are transmitted through droplets expelled by coughing or sneezing. That is why it is recommended to keep the environments ventilated, wash your hands frequently with soap and water, use a mask and avoid going to work, educational activities or public places in the presence of symptoms. Some of these are fever greater than 38´C, with a sudden onset with a temperature greater than 39º C, frequent and intense cough, headache, lack of appetite, nasal congestion, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, among others.
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