NHSO invites people to vaccinate influenza along with COVID-19 vaccine Spaced 2 weeks apart, helping to reduce complications, making the illness less severe, especially in the elderly.
Dr. Satit Timkham, Director of the Office Primary Care Access Support Mission Group National Health Security Office (NHSO) revealed that it is currently in the rainy season NHSO would like to invite people to receive the flu vaccine along with the Covid-19 vaccine.
Dr. Sathit said that the NHSO normally provides flu vaccination benefits to people in 7 risk groups, namely patients with chronic diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and stroke. chronic renal failure, heart disease, cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy Elderly people over 65 years old, young children, children from 6 months to 2 years old, handicapped groups. People who weigh more than 100 kg and pregnant women By starting a campaign for injections since last May, which normally each year will be allocated 2 million doses of the budget, but this year is a special year. The government allocated a budget of 6.4 million doses, which since last month May until present Nearly 2 million doses have been provided. There are approximately 4 million doses of vaccine remaining.
Dr. Satit said that receiving the flu vaccine along with the COVID-19 vaccine would be very helpful Because research has found that if influenza vaccination is infected with COVID-19 It will help reduce complications, especially in the elderly. Or to put it simply, the sickness is less severe. The risk of death will also be reduced. In addition, if talking directly about influenza. Vaccination also reduces the severity of the disease. Reduce the chance of becoming seriously ill until pneumonia The illness was not so severe that he had to go to the hospital and heal quickly.
Dr. Satit also said that in addition to the above 7 risk groups, the NHSO Board also approved additional target groups. by adding a group of personnel who take care of COVID-19 patients or other fields that are in close contact with the patient Groups living or working in crowded places such as slums, markets, public places or even bus drivers. And the other group is a group of teachers and students who are about to start the semester soon. Therefore, it is a good opportunity for everyone to be able to get the flu vaccine along with the COVID-19 vaccine.
“This right is regarded as health promotion and disease prevention. So it’s not just a gold patent. but social security rights Civil servants or other rights can be injected. Therefore, it should be injected. In the past, some people, even if they didn’t have the right, were willing to pay 500-700 baht per needle for injections at private hospitals. Yes,” said Dr. Satit.
Dr. Sathit also said that for recommendations for influenza vaccination together with the Covid-19 vaccine, spaced about 2 weeks onwards. You can get the flu vaccination first and then get the COVID-19 vaccination. or vaccinated against COVID-19 Let’s finish first and then continue with the flu vaccination. or influenza vaccination between the 1st and 2nd doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, but must be spaced at least 2 weeks apart. to be able to distinguish from which vaccines And so that no interactions between these two vaccinations are mixed, both of them will have a good level of immunity.
Those interested in vaccinating influenza You can contact the public health service center. or hospital directly to the Sub-District Health Promoting Hospital (Hostel. They may call first to inquire if there is a vaccine or not. If there is, they can make an appointment to reserve the queue in advance and go in for the injection. in order not to go into the hospital crowd.
