“The Importance of Getting Vaccinated Against Influenza: Statistics and Risks”

The National Institute of Health (INS) called on the entire Colombian population to get vaccinated against influenza, a contagious respiratory disease that causes around 650,000 deaths globally.

This vaccine has been shown to reduce the occurrence of related diseases and also the risk of serious complications.

For 2019, according to the entity, 13,547 laboratory samples were analyzed for influenza and other respiratory viruses. Of the total samples analyzed, 45.7% gave positive results: 1,316 positive for influenza and 4,882 positive for other respiratory viruses. Video: ten people were hit by a vehicle

The disease lasts approximately, according to doctors, a week and can be easily transmitted from one person to another through small particles expelled in coughs or sneezes until it causes pneumonia.

According to figures provided by the World Health Organization, between October 1, 2022 and March 18, 2023, between 26 and 50 million people with influenza were registered in the world; between 12 and 25 million medical consultations due to the virus; between 290,000 and 630,000 cases of hospitalizations and around 18,000 to 56,000 cases of death from this disease.

The main symptoms and possible complications are: constant cough, fatigue, malaise, muscle and joint pain, headache, sore throat, runny nose, fever, and chills. In severe complications, vomiting and diarrhea may occur, although this is more common in children than in adults. Video: mysterious lights appeared in the sky during the earthquake in Meta

Among the complications that influenza can have include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinusitis and aggravation of chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes.

Influenza vaccines are applied free of charge through the Expanded Immunization Plan to boys and girls between 6 and 23 months of age, to pregnant women from their 14th week, to people over 60 years of age and to the population diagnosed with risk of serious complications from influenza infection.