Experts in epidemiology and preventive medicine have called for the imperative of getting vaccinated against seasonal flu in order to avoid contamination by this virus and its complications, warning of its spread in the coming months, according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO).
In a statement, the head of the epidemiology and preventive medicine department at Tipasa hospital, Pr Abderrezzak Bouamra said that the medical emergency services had received severe cases of seasonal flu in recent days, whose patients were not mostly unvaccinated.
The specialist described the seasonal flu as a highly contagious disease that spreads rapidly, especially during the cold season.
He also cited WHO data, pointing out that about one billion cases of influenza are recorded each year, causing 650,000 deaths, mainly among the chronically ill, the elderly and pregnant women.
As a result, Pr Bouamra emphasized the importance of vaccination for these vulnerable categories, believing that this time of year is the best time to get vaccinated.
The president of the Algerian Society of Immunology and head of the central laboratory EPH Rouiba (East Algiers), Pr Kamel Djenouhat stressed “the imperative to be vaccinated against the virus”, warning against a possible increase in cases .
The expert in epidemiology and preventive medicine indicated, on the basis of studies, concerning people who were vaccinated against seasonal flu and then had contracted the coronavirus, that their state of health did not represent a risk.
The Ministry of Health imported a four-strain flu vaccine this year, unlike that of previous years, said the specialist, insisting on its effectiveness.
In addition, he underlined the imperative to be vaccinated each year, in view of the new mutations of the virus, knowing that the old vaccines only protect for a period of 10 months, underlining the need to respect preventive measures at like wearing a mask.
The Ministry of Health imported 2 million doses of vaccine this year, while the vaccination campaign was launched on October 14.