predicting the flu Back to the epidemic after the Covid recedes. Concern for the elderly and children at risk Advise people to proactively prevent Wear a mask and get the flu shot. Currently, the vaccine covers types 3 and 4. The government is offering 6 million doses for free.
Influenza is expected to return to the epidemic after COVID
On March 30, 2023, the Institute for the Promotion of Influenza Education organized a discussion on ‘Where did the flu go in the age of COVID-19 and how to take care of yourself?’ by Associate Professor (Specialist) Dr. Tawee Chot Pittayasunon President of the Foundation for the Advancement of Flu Education Having said that 3 years ago, the flu didn’t go away. But the public is interested in COVID and has good self-protection, such as social distancing. wear a mask Be careful about your interactions with others. This behavior is a by-product. It can prevent almost all respiratory germs, but at the moment the situation is different. There is a return to everyday life and normal activities. It is expected that the flu will definitely return to spread in Thailand.
Statistics from the World Health Organization found that adults and children are infected with high “flu”.
In Thailand, the flu will spread during the rainy season, during the months of May and June, when the disease is most incubated. Because it’s open season The children go out to do activities that are close to each other. And come back as a carrier to spread the infection to the family Related to the elderly in the house, such as grandparents, grandparents, so the 2 main groups that should be immunized with vaccination are: 1. The group of children who will be a group of many infections and a source of spread and 2. The elderly group Risk groups with congenital diseases like diabetes, heart disease, lung, kidney and brain diseases to prevent life in the balance.
According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), it is revealed that without vaccination 5-10% of adults are infected with the flu, while children are 20-30% of the population every year. Calculated from the world’s population of 7 billion, it means that up to 700 million adults worldwide could be infected with the flu, and this number will be seriously ill and hospitalized. Or admitted to the ICU about 5 million people and the death rate is about 500,000 people, which is a very high number. But if we could vaccinate people all over the world every year, this number would decrease.
flu vaccine
for Thailand Every year, there are 2 types of vaccine preparations: 1. The type that the government provides for free injections of about 6 million doses (risk populations). social security group and medical personnel) by focusing on risk groups first, and 2. The private sector buys about 3 million doses alone, which means Thai people will get about 9 million flu vaccination per year, or 12-14% of the population, which in 2022 Thailand has the number of elderly people over 60, including those with underlying diseases, about 13 million people, or 19% of total the country’s population. Therefore the preparation of vaccines is not sufficient to meet the needs of the two children who are the source of the epidemic. And the elderly over 60 years and also include the risk group for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cerebrovascular disease. COPD It is the duty of those involved in public health care. and need to speed up more action
Older people die from flu 70 times more often than younger people.
Professor Dr Thiraphong Tanthawichien, Lecturer Infectious Diseases Unit Department of Internal Medicine Faculty of Medicine Chulalongkorn University Having said that from the statistics in Thailand, it was found that Older people die from the flu almost 70 times more often than younger people, and older people with chronic illnesses suffering from the flu and pneumonia are die almost 30 times more often than younger people with chronic diseases. Leaving the wounds of the elderly with severe flu, even though they were originally in good physical health. But when recovered and found that Some people tend to have worsening symptoms. or called transliteration Supervision is needed in order to de-identify, for example, less self-help. Or the elderly who were previously unable to help themselves after being seriously ill, leading to patients being bedridden which not only affects the physical health of patients But it also affects the people of around you
so if possible it is recommended that a flu vaccination is the best way to prevent an infection that can lead to serious illness. There are currently 2 types of flu vaccines, 3 strains, most of which are vaccines that the government provides free of charge to risk groups and 4 strains that the government provides to medical personnel. pregnant women And they are generally available in private hospitals and clinics, both of which give good results, however, with medical advances A four-strain vaccine has been developed to provide better immunity and protection against influenza infection. Especially used for the elderly group with disadvantages in the body, that is, when getting older, the response to commonly used vaccines is lower than younger people.
I hope the government is aware of the children, the elderly, that is, there is an increase in the number of injections. Expand the vaccination to four types and increase the vaccination budget for the working age population. as a health guarantee for people to be healthy This is the main backbone of the country’s economy. which does not have adequate vaccination and an epidemic Thailand will lose the opportunity. And it wastes more resources and maintenance costs than prevention. According to the accounting principles of health economics
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