HSE Alert on the Eve of the Cold Season: Timely Influenza Vaccination Is Essential for High-Risk Groups

Lead: As the cold season approaches and the likelihood of respiratory illness increases, an infectious disease specialist warns about the importance of influenza vaccination and emphasizes prioritizing vaccination for high-risk groups, including people with underlying conditions, pregnant women, and children.

Minoh (Mino) Mahraz, an infectious disease specialist, in an interview with the Mehr News Agency, stated: “The influenza vaccine can effectively prevent severe forms of the disease and plays a key role in reducing hospital visits and protecting the health of the workforce and the community.”

He elaborated on the target groups for this vaccination: “People with underlying conditions, pregnant women, children, and the elderly—being higher-risk groups—should be prioritized for vaccination. Given the potential supply constraints at certain times, achieving immunization continuity requires proper prioritization of these groups to prevent severe complications and unnecessary hospitalizations.”

The infectious disease expert also commented on the appropriate timing for vaccination: “Vaccination should be performed before the peak of virus circulation and as we approach the cold season, to ensure adequate immune protection during the colder months; therefore, delaying vaccination will reduce the effectiveness of immune protection.”

Mahraz continued by noting an uptick in respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses: “At certain times of the year we see increases in COVID-19 cases, some of which present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea. However, the severity of the disease currently is not comparable to the waves of previous years, and many cases are mild and require symptomatic treatment; in severe cases, patients should receive specialized medical care and, if necessary, be hospitalized.”

He also warned about the role of gatherings and international travel in the spread of respiratory viruses: “Large gatherings with attendees from multiple countries, including at the Hajj pilgrimage, provide a suitable context for the transmission of respiratory viruses and infectious diseases; therefore, observing health protocols and taking necessary precautions after travel is essential.”

The expert cautiously forecasted the trajectory of influenza in the coming months: “, increasing no definitive way to predict the exact intensity of the influenza wave, but with gradually cooling air, increasing gatherings, and more social contact, the likelihood of rising cases is entirely plausible.”

In line with the requirements of the HSE management system and with the aim of protecting the health of employees and the public, planning and timely implementation of influenza vaccination for high-risk groups, adherence to respiratory health protocols, and promoting a healthy lifestyle during the cold season are emphasized as a strategic and cost-effective preventive measure compared to the costs of treating disease complications.