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HPA urges vaccination amidst influenza outbreak

03 July 2019, MVT 17:27
Health Protection Agency (HPA) urges vaccination amidst major influenza outbreak. PHOTO: MIHAARU FILES
03 July 2019, MVT 17:27

Health Protection Agency (HPA) urged citizens to get the influenza B vaccine following an ongoing in June.

Senior Pediatrician of Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) Doctor Ahmed Faisal previously asserted the importance of the influenza B vaccine for those above the age of six months during an interview with local media outlet Mihaaru.

According to HPA, reported cases of influenza have increased since mid-June. Moreover, the agency reported that 40 percent of samples tested since June 16 were positive.

In 2018, a significant number of people contracted influenza with one individual succumbing to the virus. Over 200 cases of Influenza and six fatalities were recorded in 2017.

Infograph regarding Dengue. PHOTO: DHAAL ATOLL HOSPITAL

Information regarding the Influenza vaccine:

- The youngest age of vaccination is between six months and nine years. - For children between six months and six years, the second dose must be administered a month after the first dose. - The dosage for children below the age of 3 is 0.25 millilitres, while the dosage for an adult is 0.5 millilitres.

Since the influenza virus evolves every year, a new vaccine is released every six months.

In addition to the influenza virus, cases of dengue and chikungunya have caused alarm in Maldives. IGMH recently opened a flu treatment clinic due to an influx of patients.

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