“80,000 doses of influenza vaccine were applied during March and it is estimated that this year her will require approximately 3,000,000 bonaerenses included in the risk groups,” explained the Minister of health of the province of Buenos Aires, Alejandro Collia.
The trivalent vaccine prevents against influenza A (H1N1), to ( H3N2) and B is intended for children from 6 months to 2 years, pregnant women, childbirth until the sixth month following childbirth, over 65, people with risk factors and health staff.
The latter must submit medical order indicating respiratory or cardiac conditions, immunodeficiency congenital or acquired (such as HIV infection), obesity, diabetes, transplantation and oncohematological diseases, and any condition that in case of contracting a flu puts at risk his life.
Despite the fact that the vaccine will be available until the end of August, the provincial director of primary health care, Luis Crovetto, urged the population to “immunize as soon as possible to acquire defenses and be protected in the months of intense cold where there is greater circulation of influenza virus”. It also requested “not to forget the measures of prevention and hygiene”.
Health authorities insist not wait at the last minute because the vaccine begins to act with all its effectiveness in 10 days, and if people come with time avoid the long delays and the concentration of people in the vacunatorios.
Other preventive measures
In addition to immunization, the main measure of protection against the flu and respiratory viruses is frequent washing of hands with SOAP and water, maintain ventilated environments, disinfect surfaces and avoid children sharing utensils or toys that may lead to mouth.
“Flu is contracted by contact with droplets of saliva that expels the sick person to the talk, cough or sneeze and they may be on the surfaces of objects, so if a person comes into contact with them and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes most likely he was infected, said the official of the provincial Ministry of health.
The vaccine available this year for risk groups is the trivalent by indication of the World Health Organization (who) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
