The resistant strain, the surge in morbidity and panic for vaccines: A guide to the flu

The number of patients in serious condition due to the illness has climbed, and the health funds are reporting hundreds of percent increase in the number of vaccines. What caused the early spread of the disease? What are the dangers? And is the vaccine really effective? Everything you need to know

The resistant strain, the surge in morbidity and panic for vaccines: A guide to the flu

The health funds reported a hundred percent increase in influenza vaccine rates over the weekend. The media deaths reported last week have alarmed the public, however, compared to last year the number is still low: 11 cases compared to 17.

The more worrying data pertains to the issue of hospitalizations. A look at the data on the amount of people hospitalized in serious condition following the complications of the disease reveals that this year there was actually an increase - 98 compared to 45 in 2018. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health, the proportion of vaccines in the current year is 16%, but following the erosion of the vaccines last week - it is expected to rise. Following the data, Walla System! NEWS coordinated a series of questions and answers regarding the disease and its spread.

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Increased hospitalization due to illness (Photo: Reuven Castro)

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What is the common influenza strain this year?

All funds hold vaccines for all varieties, and have full coverage to prevent influenza. This year's disease is particularly severe because most cases are due to infection with strain A \ H1N1, which was found in 53% of the remaining patients. "This simple vaccine protects against the disease," explained United Nursing Director Nurse Mali Kusha. "Influenza is not a cold, and the vaccine can prevent many hospital admissions. We can prevent all the victims through it. The public, and especially toddlers over six months of age, elderly, pregnant women, immunocompromised and of course health care workers, need to be vaccinated. About themselves and their environment. Remember, pregnant women who are vaccinated protect their fetuses by 70%. "

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The impact of the year is severe from previous scents?

Kusha answers positively to the question. "The delay in getting vaccines is caused by the need to decide which vaccine needs," she said. "It all started late, but it didn't depend on it. The pig, of the swine flu, is more violent, so the complications are high."

What are the Dangers of Influenza Morbidity?

Kusha emphasized that the flu is not a cold, and that the disease should be treated with the respect it deserves. "The dangers are pneumonia and mortality," she said. "It depends very much on whether a chronic patient has not received a vaccine and is depressed. We can save the flu disease and the complications. Flu is not a cold, the flu is not a flu and it is not a cold."

"400% increase in warehouses" (Photo: Avi Cohen)

People vaccinated for flu at Tel Aviv National Hospital branch (Photo: Avi Cohen)

The vaccine itself can lead to disease?

"Variable effectiveness." Kusha

"Unequivocally not - it is killed, with no side effects," Kusha says. "It can be a light redness instead of the injection, it can be a feeling of chill. It does not lead to illness, and if a person becomes ill afterwards - it is not related to the vaccine, which begins to work within two weeks. Its effectiveness varies across age groups, but with a wide coverage 60% of vaccines avoid complications "The vaccine can be done in a quiet heart. People think it leads to disease not on the basis of evidence but superstition. It prevents mortality and saves lives."

Where to store?

Every citizen can only be vaccinated in the health insurance fund where he is insured, but he can do so at any other branch than his own, nationwide. Thus, if there is a shortage of vaccines in the clinic, you can go to another clinic. "Furthermore, we have opened twenty call centers open until 10 at night to allow people who work during the day to arrive late and receive the service," Kusha said. It should be emphasized that soldiers can only receive the service in the army.

How unusual has been the number of vaccine referrals in recent days?

"What has happened in the past three days is unmatched. There has been a 400 percent increase in two days. On Thursday, United consolidated 12,000 people to be vaccinated. I expect tomorrow the general vaccination rate will be well above 16%."