The Ministry of Health in a statement states that "having as a priority the prevention of the flu disease, reducing the pressure on the Health System and based on the sufficient number of vaccines in its stock, it urges the public regardless of age, or if it belongs to a high-risk group, such as contacting his Staff Physician to receive the flu vaccine for free."
It is emphasized that vaccination with the influenza vaccine is particularly important for people who fall into the following high-risk groups:
People over 65 years of age
People with chronic health problems (asthma or other chronic lung diseases, heart diseases, immunosuppression, organ transplantation, sickle cell disease, diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity, chronic kidney disease and liver disease, neuromuscular or neurological diseases)
Pregnant women
Adults and children taking long-term aspirin
Also recommended for:
Children over 6 months to 15 years
Workers in health care facilities
Caregivers of people with an underlying illness
Closed populations (staff and internal students of schools, military and police academies, inmates and staff of institutions, recruits and conscripts in the armed forces)
Professionals such as veterinarians, poultry farmers, pig farmers, butchers and people who come into systematic contact with birds
In the event that people are uninsured in the NHS, they can contact the Adult Immunization Centers or the Maternity Protection and Child Welfare Centers of the Ministry of Health.
What is the flu virus?
Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause mild to very severe illness. Most healthy people get over the flu without complications. However, the elderly, young children, and people with underlying conditions are more likely to develop severe disease with a greater risk of complications.
According to the data of the influenza surveillance system at the Epidemiological Surveillance and Control of Infectious Diseases Unit of the Ministry of Health, the occurrence of influenza in Cyprus usually begins with a small percentage of cases from the end of Autumn and peaks in the months of January-February.
In the current period, due to the lower exposure to the influenza virus, due to the restrictive measures against the pandemic of COVID-19, the public is more vulnerable to the flu. According to recent data, influenza activity continues to increase across the European region, with earlier seasonal activity compared to pre-pandemic periods. COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health emphasizes in the announcement that the flu vaccine is safe and effective. Its side effects are relatively rare and mild.