Flu vaccine should be ordered now, doctor urges

People are being urged to order their influenza jab for the next season at their doctor or pharmacist now.

Although summer has just started, and it might seem a bit early to think about influenza, this is when doctors and pharmacies put in their orders for the vaccine.

National Influenza Pandemic Standing Committee chairman Tanya Melillo stressed that ideally everyone should be vaccinated.

"All you can get from it are benefits, and the only inconvenience is the injection," she said.

The vaccine is taken in September or October, shortly before the influenza season starts, and although it does not guarantee that a person will not get sick with the flu, the likelihood is that the symptoms will be less severe, and the patient will be sick for a shorter time.

"Taking the jab will help decrease mortality, especially in the elderly," she said. She explained that people with health problems could also have complications triggered by influenza, while the young are badly affected because they have very little immunity.

Dr Melillo stressed the importance of children taking the jab, since around 40 per cent of them get sick every winter. She pointed out that when the jab was mandatory for school children in Japan - between 1962 and 1987 - the number of hospitalisations and deaths were three to four times less than those of the United States.

This year the local health authorities will be giving the vaccine to more people. Until last year, those over 65 and those in high-risk groups were entitled to get the influenza vaccine for free. But earlier this week Dr Melillo announced that for the coming season the jab will be given to all those over 55 and to infants from six to 24 months, apart from high risk groups.

The increase in vaccination coverage follows recommendations by the World Health Organisation, amidst fears of an avian influenza pandemic, which could kill millions around the world. Dr Melillo said that although the influenza jab does not protect against the avian flu, it could still provide some immunity.

Up to October 18 last year, more than 11,300 influenza jabs were given at health centres.

Last November, Health Minister Louis Deguara said 3,026 jabs were distributed to local councils and 6,732 to institutions like homes for the elderly and hospitals.

Influenza vaccines reduce hospitalisation by 70 per cent and death by 85 per cent in people over 65 living in the community, according to the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.