The authorities yesterday made a strong appeal for people to take the influenza vaccine, particularly considering that Australia has been experiencing a worse-than-normal influenza season this year and some infections have resulted in deaths.
Addressing a media conference yesterday, Health, the Elderly and Community Care Minister Louis Deguara said this year, the Health Division will be offering free jabs to everyone over 55 years of age, all those living in residences for the elderly and institutions, as well as those suffering from chronic diseases related to the lungs, heart, kidneys and liver.
Minister Deguara explained the particular situation Malta will be going through this year, since the influenza season will coincide with the migration to the new hospital.
He said that as part of the government’s commitment to strengthen primary care and community care services, it is working closer with private doctors and local councils, making the vaccine more accessible to the general public.
Representatives of the Association of Private Family Doctors, who were present at the media conference, said they will be receiving bookings from those wishing to take the vaccine until 7 October.
It is recommended that everyone over six months of age takes the influenza vaccine, which remains effective for a six-month period, as from mid-October.
Minister Deguara said the number of people that took the vaccine last year decreased by 32 per cent over the previous year, when the vaccine was considered to form part of the fight against the spread of the avian influenza.
In 2005, a total of 110,000 or 62 per cent of the population took the vaccine, but this amount decreased to between 50,000 and 60,000, or about 32 per cent of the population last year.
Minister Deguara said he hoped this amount would not decrease further this year, particularly since the influenza season in Australia has clearly been showing that there are different types of influenza that can also be fatal.
Moreover, the number of people admitted to hospital last February, suffering from influenza, increased substantially over the previous year.
Ray Busuttil, director general health, noted that even though the risk of spread of the avian influenza was considered to be at its worst two years ago, the number of cases of bird flu, as it is commonly referred to, is no different this year.
“The risk is exactly the same and taking the influenza vaccine still forms part of the prevention process,” he said, adding that influenza is a killer and the possible initial side effects of the vaccine should not be seen as a deterrent.
Influenza is a serious illness quite different from the common cold and is characterised by sudden onset, fever, tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches.