FROM LEFT: Dr. Khalid Hamid Elawad, Health Protection Manager at PHCC; Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chairman of Pandemic Preparedness Committee/Head of Infectious Disease, HMC; Dr. Hamad Al Romaihi, Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Manager at MOPH,
With an early start of this year’s flu season and that too being more severe than last year, a comprehensive national influenza vaccination campaign has been launched jointly by the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
Being conducted for the fifth consecutive year, the campaign is being held under the theme ‘Fight the Flu’. The influenza vaccine has been made easily accessible to everyone to ensure vaccination of as many people as possible.
The vaccine is available for free across all PHCC’s health centres, HMC (for patients attending clinic appointments) and at 51 private and semi-governmental health care facilities, said officials addressing a press conference, yesterday.
“Initial laboratory data indicate an early start to this year’s flu season and also point to it being more severe than the last year, so it is extremely important that people take action and get vaccinated, especially those at high risk for flu complications. As the influenza virus strains change most years, you need to get immunised each year to be protected against new strains. People who get the vaccine each year are better protected than those who remain unimmunised, ” said Dr Abdullatif Al Khal, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Head of Infectious Diseases at HMC and Co-Chair of the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee.
“Last year we provided around 160,000 people with vaccines. This year have increased it to 200,000 as we have seen an increasing interest in people getting vaccinated against the flu,” said Dr Hamad Al Romaihi, Health Protection and Communicable Diseases Manager at MoPH, and Co-chair of the National Pandemic Preparedness Committee.
“The annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best and safest way to reduce the chances catching the flu and potentially spreading it to others. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently.
The Ministry of Public Health is building a strong partnership with private healthcare providers to increase levels of immunisation against the flu in our community,” said Dr. Hamad Al Romaihi,.
Thousands of staff across the Qatar healthcare system have already received the vaccine in readiness for the season.
“Flu is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalisation and sometimes, even death. Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at high risk for the flu and its complications. This includes the elderly, young children, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions. It is also important for healthcare workers to vaccinate themselves against the flu to protect their patients. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others – this is why it is important to take all measures to protect yourself and your family,” Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal said. According to Dr. Al Romaihi around 10 percent of the population get effected by the seasonal flu every year, and it is similar to the global prevalence of the flu.
“With the flu vaccination, it is also essential to practice good hygiene by properly and frequently washing hands and protecting others from coughs and sneezes — coughing or sneezing into a paper tissue or an elbow — to help prevent the spread of seasonal influenza. People who have flu-like symptoms should stay at home to avoid infecting others,” said Dr. Khalid Hamid Elawad, Health Protection Manager, preventive health directorate at PHCC. “The influenza vaccines are safe. Most people who get the flu shot only have redness, soreness or swelling where the vaccine was given. Most people with allergies can get an influenza vaccine without any problems. However, if you have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of influenza vaccine or any part of the vaccine, talk to your health care provider. You may need to be tested for allergies before being immunized. People with egg allergies can be safely immunized with the influenza vaccine,” said Dr. Soha Al Bayat, Head of Vaccination Unit, Health Protection and Communicable Disease Control Department at the MoPH.
A dedicated website — www.fighttheflu.qa — is again live where members of the community can find information about the vaccine including myths and facts as well as where they can get the vaccine for free in Qatar.
