With colder weather approaching and respiratory illness becoming more likely, an infectious-disease specialist emphasized influenza vaccination, prioritizing people with underlying conditions, pregnant women and children.
Speaking to Mehr News Agency, Dr. Minoo Mohraz said influenza vaccination can effectively prevent severe disease and substantially reduce hospital demand while protecting workers and the wider community.
She identified people with underlying conditions, pregnant women, children and older adults as first-priority groups. Given possible supply constraints at some times, appropriate prioritization is needed to prevent severe complications and avoidable admissions.
Vaccination before peak virus circulation and ahead of the cold season allows sufficient time for an immune response. Delayed vaccination reduces the opportunity for protection to develop in time.
Mohraz also discussed increases in respiratory and gastrointestinal illness. COVID-19 cases rise during some periods, and some involve diarrhea. She said current severity was not comparable to the major waves of previous years and many cases were mild and required symptomatic treatment; severe illness still requires specialist care and, when necessary, admission.
She warned that international travel and large gatherings, including Hajj, create opportunities for respiratory and other infectious diseases to spread. Hygiene protocols and appropriate precautions after returning are therefore important.
The severity of the coming influenza wave cannot be predicted with certainty. Nevertheless, colder weather and increased gathering and social contact make rising case numbers plausible.
Within HSE management, timely influenza vaccination for high-risk groups, respiratory hygiene and healthy living in winter are emphasized as strategic preventive measures with relatively low costs compared with treating complications.
Source links: www.mehrnews.com
Original publication date (Solar Hijri): 1405/06/16
Author: Dibagostaran Sanat