Free flu vaccines on offer for the vulnerable

Free flu vaccines on offer for the vulnerable

Mothers-to-be, medical staff and people aged over 50 suffering from chronic diseases are being encouraged to visit local hospitals to receive free seasonal influenza vaccinations against various strains of the virus.

Vaccines will be on hand to inoculate people against the H1N1, H3N2 and B/Hybei-Wujiangang/158/2009 viruses, with the prevention programme running from May 10 until the end of June.

People who are suffering from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, rheumatics, obesity and heart disease will receive priority to receive the free vaccine.

Dr Anonh Xeuatvongsa, the manager of the National Centre for Maternal and Child Health's Expanded Programme of Immunisation, told Vientiane Times this week that respiratory problems causing influenza commonly occur from June to September every year.

“There are not any medicines to treat influenza, but vaccination is the best way to ensure people have some immunity to the virus,” he said.

It is very important to encourage expectant women to receive vaccines as the virus will not only directly impact mothers themselves, but potentially also their babies.

If a woman gets `seasonal influenza whilst she is pregnant, the baby may be at risk of premature birth or even congenital abnormalities.

Dr Anonh explained that this will be the second time that the Expanded Programme of Immunisation will provide free seasonal influenza vaccines to Lao people and these ones are special because they can be administered in one dose.

She thanked the CSL Company from Australia, the United States' Centre for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation for providing 100,000 doses of vaccines at US$12 per dose.

In the capital, people are advised to visit the Mother and Child Health Hospital, Mahosot Hospital, Mittaphab Hospital, Setthathirath Hospital and 103 Hospital to receive the free vaccines. In addition, they can also receive injections at Chanthabouly, Sikhottabong, Sisattanak and Xaysettha district hospitals.

Dr Anonh said that people are advised to receive vaccines against seasonal influenza every year as the different strains of the influenza virus are changing all the time. For example, H7N9 is a new virus, causing illness and deaths in China.

In 2008, the Lao Ministry of Health recorded that 12.5 percent of Lao children treated at hospital suffering from severe pneumonia had previously contracted influenza.

From 2003-2007 in Bangladesh, 13.5 percent of children suffering from severe pneumonia and treated at hospital developed the condition after coming down with influenza.

Between 2003 and 2006 in Hong Kong, about 14.3 percent of children suffering from severe pneumonia developed it as a complication of influenza and the same was true for 10 percent of Thai children with pneumonia over the period from 2003-2008.

By Xayxana Leukai (Latest Update May 03, 2013)

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