CDC recommends timely vaccination for key populations
At a press conference held by the National Health Commission today, Xia Gang, director of the Department of Health and Immunization of the National Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention, said that starting in July this year, vaccination units across the country have successively launched influenza vaccination services, earlier than the influenza epidemic season. The production and supply of influenza vaccines this year has increased significantly compared with last year, and at this stage, it can meet the vaccination needs of the masses.
High-risk groups such as the elderly are more likely to develop serious complications after being infected with influenza, and the elderly are always the focus of influenza vaccination. At present, some elderly people are not sufficiently aware of taking the initiative to receive influenza vaccines, and some people are still waiting to see the vaccine.
Peng Zhibin, director of the Respiratory Infectious Diseases Division of the Infectious Disease Management Division of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that influenza is not a common cold. People are generally susceptible to influenza viruses, especially infants, young children, the elderly and patients with chronic underlying diseases. These groups will be more seriously ill after being infected with influenza. , serious complications such as pneumonia may occur.
The World Health Organization estimates that global seasonal influenza epidemics can cause 3 million to 5 million severe cases and 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory disease-related deaths every year.
Peng Zhibin said that for the elderly, influenza vaccination can effectively reduce the incidence of influenza and also reduce the incidence of influenza-related complications. Influenza vaccine has been used globally for decades, and long-term vaccination practice suggests that it is a relatively mature vaccine with good safety profile.
Xia Gang suggested that even if you have recently experienced flu-like cold symptoms, you should still get the flu vaccine as soon as possible after you recover, especially for key groups such as the elderly. Vaccination can reduce infection and reduce the risk of severe illness and death.
In addition to influenza vaccination this winter and next spring, it is also recommended for the elderly and people with chronic underlying diseases to receive pneumococcal vaccine and new coronavirus vaccine. For children, it is recommended to receive non-immunization program vaccines such as pneumococcal vaccine and Haemophilus influenzae type B conjugate vaccine on the basis of immunization program vaccinations. Influenza vaccines generally provide protection two weeks after vaccination.
Xia Gang finally reminded: Respiratory diseases are easy to spread. In daily life, people should also develop good personal hygiene habits and a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of respiratory disease infection. In addition, daily attention should be paid to keeping the environment at home and workplace clean, and windows should be opened regularly for ventilation.
![CDC recommends timely vaccination for key populations](https://a5qu.com/upload/images/3d890e60858a916abd6832b51732b75c.webp)