Annual flu vaccination starts tomorrow

The vaccine against the annual bout of influenza can start being taken by those entitled to it from health centres as from tomorrow, the Health Department said.

The vaccine can be taken until December.

This year the government has ordered enough doses for all those entitled to the vaccine for free. The government said it had placed an order for 150,000 doses of the annual vaccine.

Up to last year people aged 65 and over were entitled to the vaccine for the annual influenza for free but the government decided to lower that age to 55 this year to cover more people.

Although the annual influenza vaccine does not cover a person against pandemic flu, experts are urging more people to take the annual jab so that manufacturers can increase their production. The same companies which produce the annual vaccine will be the ones producing the one for the pandemic virus.

Moreover, people working in the health sector and who have direct contact with patients, people living in institutions, those who suffer from chronic pulmonary, heart, liver and kidney problems, diabetics, people with an immunodeficiency problem, including Aids and cancer, and people with a disability are also entitled to the free vaccine.

The annual influenza is not the same as the influenza that can cause the next pandemic. A spokesman for the Health Department stressed the importance of making a clear distinction between the annual influenza epidemic and pandemic influenza.

Rumours are spreading that a pandemic is just around the corner. However, the Health Department spokesman insisted there is no need for panic. Information about the pandemic has been available online on the Health Ministry's website - www.sahha.gov.mt - for some months now and an influenza pandemic information line - 2132 4086 - was also set up.

Moreover, an information leaflet will soon be posted to each household.

The World Health Organisation is closely following the progress of avian influenza, which, it is thought, will cause the next influenza pandemic. Avian influenza has been found in Asia and certain parts of Russia but the virus has not yet mutated into one that can spread easily from person to person.

Although influenza experts agree that a pandemic is likely to happen in the next few years, it is not believed it will occur this winter. Last month, Douglas Fleming, director of the Royal College of General Practitioners' research unit in Birmingham and a top researcher on influenza, expressed his belief that the virus which is likely to cause the pandemic will not change enough to be able to spread from person to person by this winter.

Once WHO informs governments that the pandemic has started, the health department in Malta will make a public announcement to that effect, the spokesman said.

Annual flu vaccination can be administered at the Floriana, Paola, Mosta, Gzira, Qormi, Cospicua, Rabat and Birkirkara health centres on weekdays between 10 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. and on Saturday between 9 a.m. and midday.

Gozitans can take the vaccine at the Victoria health centre between 8 a.m. and midday on weekdays.

Moreover, people over 55 can contact their local council to check if a vaccination service is being offered in their locality.

The Health Department said that those entitled to the free vaccine but who cannot leave their home because of mobility problems should make use of the home visit service offered by the Malta Memorial District Nursing Association.

Since this year more people than usual are expected to take the vaccine, the department is urging mothers who want to give their babies the childhood vaccine to go to health centres before 10 a.m.

The department has also urged the public to cooperate by going for the vaccine at the indicated times and presenting an identity card. Those under 55 years old who suffer from the chronic diseases mentioned earlier or have a disability should also present a certificate to confirm this.

The annual influenza jab can be taken privately by anyone over six months who is not entitled to it for free.

The annual flu is one thing... a pandemic is another

Ordinary influenza occurs every winter, affecting between 10 to 15 per cent of the population. Although for most people getting sick with the flu is unpleasant, it is not a life-threatening infection and most people will recover within one or two weeks without the need for medical treatment.

Information available on the Public Health Department's website says that the very young, the very old and people with chronic illnesses are the most at risk.

On a positive note, vaccination for the annual influenza is available in advance and is recommended for those at risk of serious illness.

On the other hand, an influenza pandemic occurs infrequently - three pandemics were recorded last century - and can take place at any time of the year affecting about 25 per cent of the population.

Pandemic influenza is a more serious infection for everyone and some people will not recover even with medical treatment and, due to the higher severity of illness, there is a greater risk of death. The department says that people of any age may be at risk of serious illness.

Although the vaccine will not be available in advance, the whole population will be vaccinated once this is available. In fact, the government has ordered enough vaccines to cover 90 per cent of the population. The director general of health, Ray Busuttil, had explained that one of the reasons why the authorities had ordered vaccines for 90 per cent of the population and not for everyone was because there were some people who would not be able to take it for medical reasons.