The Ministry of Health, having as a priority the prevention of influenza disease, the reduction of pressure on the Health System and based on the sufficient number of vaccines in stock, urges the public regardless of age, or if they belong to a high-risk group, to contact their Personal Physician to receive the flu vaccine free of charge.
It is stressed that vaccination with the influenza vaccine is particularly important for people who fall into the following high-risk groups:
- People over 65 years of age
- People with chronic health problems (asthma or other chronic lung disease, heart disease, immunosuppression, organ transplantation, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity, chronic kidney disease and hepatopathy, neuromuscular or neurological diseases)
- Pregnant women
- Adults and children taking aspirin long-term
It is also recommended for:
- Children from 6 months to 15 years of age
- Health care workers
- Caregivers of persons with an underlying disease
- Closed populations (staff and interns of schools, military and police academies, inmates and staff of institutions, recruits and conscripts in the armed forces)
- Professionals such as veterinarians, poultry farmers, pig farmers, slaughterers and people who have regular contact with birds
If people are uninsured in the GHS, they can contact the Adult Vaccination Centres or the Maternity and Child Welfare Protection Centres of the Ministry of Health.
What is the influenza virus?
Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause mild to very severe illness. Most healthy people get over the flu without complications. However, the elderly, young children, and people with underlying medical conditions are more likely to develop severe illness with a higher risk of complications.
According to data from the surveillance system for influenza at the Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control Unit of the Ministry of Health, in Cyprus the onset of influenza usually starts with a small proportion of cases from the end of autumn and peaks in January-February.
In the current period, due to the lower exposure to the influenza virus, due to the restrictive measures against the pandemic of COVID-19, the public is more vulnerable to influenza. According to recent data, influenza activity continues to increase across the European region, with earlier seasonal activity than in periods prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health stresses that the influenza vaccine is safe and effective. Its side effects are relatively rare and mild.
(AF)
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