Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 10: A day after several cases of swine flu were reported from Jammu, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today urged people to get vaccinated that would protect them from getting flu.
The DAK president and flu expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said that annual flu vaccine would protect people from flu-related complications, hospitalization and death. “Everyone 6 months and old should get a flu shot. And, now is the time to get the vaccine,” he said.
Dr Nisar said this year’s flu vaccine has been updated and contains protection against mutated swine flu strain along with several other strains. “We have a new strain of virus in circulation, called Michigan strain that has replaced earlier California strain which was circulating since pandemic 2009,” he said.
While vaccine is recommended for all, he said, it is especially needed in too young, old, pregnant and people with medical conditions. “Children 6 months to 8 years need two doses, one month apart to be fully protected,” the DAK president said.
Dr Nisar said only injectables are recommended this season, as nasal spray vaccine, popular among children is not recommended for use as it was found to be ineffective. “Flu jabs protect pregnant women, their unborn babies and their newborn babies’ upto 6 months after they are born which is important as infants upto 6 months are too young to receive the vaccine,” he said.
The DAK president said the healthcare workers should be compulsorily vaccinated to ensure safety of patients.
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