The Medical Association of Kavala recommends mass vaccinations against Covid-19 and seasonal flu

The Medical Association of Kavala recommends mass vaccinations against Covid-19 and the seasonal flu.

According to the guidelines of the National Immunization Committee, both Covid-19 and influenza are contagious diseases of the respiratory system and can cause mild to severe illness.

The elderly, young children, and people with certain chronic illnesses are at greater risk of serious complications from the flu. The effective way of prevention is vaccination with the flu vaccine. It is noted that it is expected that during the upcoming flu season 2022-2023, the flu virus will circulate alongside the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the disease COVID-19.

The groups of increased risk in which vaccination against the SARS-Cov-2 virus and seasonal influenza should be applied systematically and as a priority are the following:

1.People aged 60 and over.

2.Children (6 months and older) and adults with one or more of the following aggravating factors or chronic diseases:

• Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Heart disease with severe hemodynamic disturbance
• Immunosuppression (hereditary or acquired)
• Organ transplantation and bone marrow transplantation
• Sickle cell anemia (and other hemoglobinopathies)
• Diabetes mellitus or other chronic metabolic disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic liver diseases
• Neurological – neuromuscular diseases
• Down syndrome

3.Pregnant women regardless of gestational age, pregnant women and lactating women.

4.Persons with morbid obesity (Body Mass Index >40Kg/m2) and children with BMI >95thETH.

5.Children who take aspirin long-term (eg for Kawasaki disease, rheumatoid arthritis and others).

6.People who are in close contact with children younger than 6 months or are caring for people with an underlying illness that increases the risk of flu complications.

7.Closed populations, such as staff and internal students (schools, military and police academies, special schools and inmates and staff of institutions, etc.).

8.Employees in health service provision areas (medical and nursing staff, other workers, students of health professions in clinical practice) and in refugee-immigrant accommodation centers).

9.Homeless.

10.Veterinarians, poultry farmers, pig farmers, breeders, slaughterers and general people who come into systematic contact with birds or pigs.

The Medical Association points out that the prescription of vaccines and all medicines is a medical act and is carried out after an evaluation of the medical history of the clinical picture and the clinical examination of each patient.

All these data are taken into account and accelerate or postpone for a short period of time the vaccination, both to ensure the health of the citizens and for timely and higher vaccination coverage.

“It’s good prevent or cure it”.

THE PRESIDENT THE SECRETARY

ANASTASIA ANTONIOU-POUGOURA PANAGIOTA CHLOROPOULOU-TSAKNAKI