The Ministry of Health announced that the distribution of almost 10 million flu vaccines has already begun for the winter period, when respiratory diseases reach their peak; In addition to the infectious pathologies that circulate each year, prevention is greater due to the reproduction of COVID-19 among the population. Mass immunization will begin this Friday throughout the country.
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The holder of the portfolio, Carla Vizzotti, warned of an “unusual increase, very significant in number and early in viruses such as influenza”, that it is the H3N2 subtype, different from the one that caused the 2009 pandemic, and assured that the greatest difficulties will happen in the pediatric sector.
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“It’s been two years since the gripeand since boys and girls have not had contact, they are a very susceptible population,” commented the infectious disease doctor, who warned that, during the first quarter of the year, 2,500 cases were registered. cases in total, in contrast to the 4,000 infections detected throughout the previous season.
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The vaccine is included in the national calendar for health personnel, children between 6 and 24 months, those over 65 years of age, pregnant women in any month of gestation, and people between 2 and 64 years of age with risk factors . For the rest of the population, although the injection is not compulsory, it is recommended for those who live in the aforementioned groups.
The symptoms of a flu infection are very similar to those of other respiratory viruses: headache, muscle aches, dry cough, sore throat, rhinitis and high fever. Most cases are mild to moderate, but people can experience vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of taste or smell.
Vizzotti, in turn, highlighted the speed of the provinces to launch the inoculation system: “We are starting the process just in the fall and it is very timely, we have expectations for the rapid distribution and the high demand of the population.”
COVID-19: take advantage to apply the reinforcement
The Federal Health Council (Cofesa), which brings together all the ministers in the area of the country, agreed to “strengthen the opportunity for the co-administration of the flu and COVID-19 vaccines”, in view of the start of flu vaccination. In addition, it established “strengthen communication and dissemination of the importance of applying the booster dose prior to a possible increase in the number of cases and the arrival of the cold months.”
In relation to the coronavirus, Cofesa highlighted that there is “global uncertainty” about the behavior of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the coming months, especially during the winter in the southern hemisphere (new variants, new peaks, co-circulation with other viruses). )”.
Despite the fact that coverage levels of 90% were achieved in the first dose and 80% of complete schemes in the total population, and more than 15,000,000 booster doses already applied, “since the end of last January there has been a progressive decrease in the number of doses applied per week and mainly in the application of the booster dose”. It was also agreed to move to “weekly reports” in relation to the dissemination of data on the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina.
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