(Central News Agency, Tokyo, 25th, comprehensive foreign report) Seeing that the influenza epidemic in Australia is expanding in the southern hemisphere, the Japan Vaccine Society has judged that Japan may also be epidemic this year, and “strongly recommend” influenza vaccination; for 4 major groups including the elderly over 65 years old. , “highly recommended” to get the flu vaccine.
The Japan Broadcasting Association (NHK) reported that the Japan Vaccine Society, which is composed of vaccine researchers and others, announced the above insights on the society’s official website on June 23. Kenji Okada, chairman of the Japan Society of Vaccines, said that a global influenza epidemic may occur this year, and the alert level should be raised in Japan.
The society said that with the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) in Japan in the past two years, influenza has not been as prevalent as in previous years, and there may be a lower rate of people with antibodies in some age groups. The number of dead and seriously ill patients is likely to increase.
The society pointed out that once the flu and COVID-19 epidemics at the same time, it is also worrying that it will cause a considerable burden on the medical volume.
In addition, Australia, which is a predictor of influenza epidemics in the northern hemisphere, has continued to expand its influenza epidemic since March this year.
As a result, the Japan Vaccine Society said it was “strongly recommended” to get a flu shot this year. For the elderly over 65 years old, children born more than 6 months and under 5 years old, pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases, the society also “specially recommends” influenza vaccination.
According to the Sankei Shimbun, Japan’s Tohoku University of Medicine and Medicine Distinguished Professor Mitsuo Horai said after a meeting on June 23 that the influenza epidemic in Australia had begun, saying that there has been almost no influenza epidemic in the world in the past two years, and “there is a problem of social group immunity. likely to decline.” (Translator: Huang Mingxi / Verification: Zhang Xiaowen) 1110625