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- Ελληνικά
Today's Press Conference on the Vaccination Plan against COVID-19 and Seasonal Influenza for the Autumn and Winter of 2023-2024, kicks off a series of actions by the Ministry of Health to raise awareness of the need for vaccination, strengthen vaccination coverage and protect vulnerable groups. This year's vaccination campaign also highlights the importance of timely information for health professionals and the public on the benefits of vaccination.
Vaccines are one of the most powerful disease prevention tools available to medical science. Vaccination is a public good with significant economic benefits such as increased productivity in the workplace, reduced absenteeism, reduced health care costs, and significant private benefits for maintaining our health and well-being.
Based on the ECDC's 2023 recommendations, vaccination efforts are focused on protecting people at risk of becoming seriously ill, i.e. people over 60 years of age and other vulnerable groups, regardless of age, with underlying comorbidities and immunocompromised individuals who are most at risk of being hospitalized. In addition, ECDC's mathematical modelling showed that a vaccination campaign in autumn 2023 (with an optimistic scenario of high vaccine uptake among people aged 60 years and older) is expected to prevent approximately 21-32% of COVID-19-related hospitalisations.
In the European Union, uptake of COVID-19 vaccine has been tracked since the start of the vaccination campaign in December 2020. By August 2023, 84.9% of the population aged 60 years and older in European Union countries received a first booster dose. For the second booster dose, the percentage is less than 35.6%, while only 4% of the population aged 60 years and over have received a third.
Regarding seasonal influenza, during the winter months it reaches epidemic proportions in Europe and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in all Member States. Complications of influenza are most common in the elderly and in people with chronic diseases.
Therefore, the best way to prevent influenza and its complications is vaccination. As influenza viruses change, it is required that the flu vaccine each year keeps up with the viruses that are circulating. In Cyprus, flu cases usually occur in late autumn and during winter, so October is the optimal time for vaccination. However, the percentage of the population vaccinated against influenza each year is much lower than the target set by the World Health Organization, i.e. 75%.
With this year's campaign, the Ministry of Health is working to ensure equal and timely access to vaccines for all citizens, to combat misinformation and misinformation and to improve confidence in vaccines.
In conclusion, I would like to stress that for this year's campaign to succeed, all of us, Ministry of Health, stakeholders and health professionals, must work together and raise awareness towards the common goal of improving vaccination coverage against Covid-19 and seasonal influenza.
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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