Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Oct 30: With the change in season, the healthcare experts today emphasized the critical need for flu vaccination to safeguard the population against various influenza diseases and reduce their severity.
Starting from September, experts said that the strains of the virus come into circulation due to the dryness in the surroundings coupled with the dip in temperature, leading to an increase in flu cases.
The change, the doctors noted, makes it necessary for certain sections of the population-which is susceptible to the infection-such as children above six months of age, those with comorbidities, and the elderly people over 60 years of age, to get flu shots.
“Because their immunity remains lower, it is important for them to get the flu vaccine. Those who have underlying medical conditions such as diabetes, heart diseases, respiratory infections, kidney disease, lung disease, or are in an immunocompromised state should also get the necessary protection,” Dr. Muhammad Salim Khan, head of the Community Medicine Department, Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar told Excelsior.
The doctors stated that Influenza A and B affect humans, and with the change in seasons, the strains of the infection emerge, making the population susceptible to the infection that thrives in specific conditions.
“There are hardly any changes in the virus strains and remain mostly the same every season; however, the vaccine, which has been developed recently in the months of July and August, has to be administered. It is for those who fall in the northern hemisphere and is used in September, October, and November, aiming to provide protection for the next nearly 5 months,” Dr. Khan said.
Dr. Nasir Shams, who is a Consultant Physician at JLNM Hospital, Rainawari, also underlined the importance of flu shots, stating that their effective use also reduces the patient load on hospitals, especially during the winter months by reducing the severity of the diseases.
“The people who are elderly and dealing with existing medical conditions, contracting the infection, leads to their hospitalization. The use of the flu vaccine for them not only keeps them protected but eventually results in a decrease in hospitalization,” he said.
He said that healthcare workers working in hospitals must also get flu shots while emphasizing the need for pregnant women to do the same at any stage of pregnancy.
“It is the safest vaccine recommended worldwide and is indeed making an impact on the health of the population. The available vaccine is quadrivalent, which comes with enhanced protection. Pregnant women, while they can get vaccinated anytime, must do so after consulting their doctors,” he added.
While Dr. Khan said that the right time for the vaccine is October and November, Dr. Shams said that people can get the vaccine anytime, noting that with the flu season starting in Kashmir from September and beyond, people who fall into the identified categories must ensure that they get their flu shots on time so that they are protecting throughout the season.
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