LThe flu forced millions of Italians to bed during the Christmas holidays and just last week at least one million people were affected by the flu virus. According to the latest data surveillance bulletin of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità the flu has not yet reached the peak of infections, but it is likely that there will still be sustained circulation of respiratory viruses in the coming weeks. That said, I’m still few people choose to get vaccinated against the flu. And then what they crowd hospitals and emergency rooms in case of complicationswhich are a lot less rare than you might think. It is therefore necessary to inform ourselves better and in time to prepare effectively and adequately for the arrival of the flu, against which the only weapon is vaccination. We talked about it with il Professor Fabrizio Pregliasco, Scientific director of Influenza ObservatoryDirector of the specialization school in hygiene and preventive medicine at the University of Milan and company healthcare director of the IRCCS Galeazzi Sant’Ambrogio hospital in Milan.
Influence near peak
High fever, respiratory symptoms such as cold, sore throat and cough, malaise, muscle pain. These are the signs of the flu which millions of people have been facing for a few weeks. These days i Emergency rooms throughout Italy record many cases of hospitalization for them consequences of the flu especially in fragile people with previous pathologies, and who experience severe symptoms with the virus. In all these cases, i patients were not vaccinated against the flu. This is why once again experts recommend vaccination, especially for the elderly and those suffering from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, those who are immunosuppressed or have diabetes.
Data on influenza (to clarify ideas about the vaccine)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), influenza causes 290,000 to 650,000 deaths globally every year. In Italy, influenza infection and its complications are responsible for approximately 8,000 deaths per year.
The European Center for Disease Control (ECDC).) estimates that dai occur every year in Europe 40 to 50 million symptomatic cases of influenza and come on 15,000 to 70,000 deaths from causes attributable to influenza. In Italy, theinfluenza and pneumonia associated with it are currently classified among the top 10 causes of death.
Not only the elderly and frail are at risk
«Data in hand, at a national level we are recording a very strong pressure on all the PSs and hospitalizations due to complications of the flu are increasing throughout Italy. THE patients most at risk are the elderly and frailbut even young people may be hospitalized for the onset of complications. Among other things, the higher the number of new cases, the more likely it is that someone will end up in hospital or the emergency room”, states the Professor Fabrizio Pregliasco.
The flu vaccine is the only weapon…
«This is why it is important to support flu vaccination in every way, the most effective weapon at our disposal to reduce the spread of these pathologies which, especially for risk categories, can cause serious suffering and potential life risk», reiterates Professor Fabrizio Pregliasco.
Professor Fabrizio Pregliasco (Photo by Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
… But few use it
Even though it is now known that the vaccination is the most effective intervention For prevent flu and its complicationsthere are still too few people who follow the advice of experts.
Our country is well below the vaccination objectives proposed by the Ministry of Health which recommends a minimum coverage of 75% and an optimal coverage of 95%. These numbers are needed for reduce influenza-related mortality, but also the health costs and productivity losses linked to seasonal flu epidemics. It was found that after a temporary increase immediately after the Covid pandemic, the coverage data actually seems to be decreasing.
What is the active vaccine call and what is it for?
This is why it is essential to activate initiatives that better promote influenza vaccination to increase vaccination coverage throughout Italy. «One strategy is undoubtedly that of promote the active call of subjects eligible for vaccination, with the involvement and commitment of general practitioners but also of pharmacists, specialists, nurses and patient associations. The active call for vaccination represents in fact one of the most effective actions to obtain adequate levels of membership.
This is demonstrated by the fact that where there is a structured active call the coverage levels are much higher. This is because in this way we have the possibility of getting closer to the patient and ensuring that those who are hesitant or who do not see the flu vaccination as a priority are able to understand its importance.efficacy and safety, thus benefiting from this vaccination for one pathology that is absolutely not trivial» explains Professor Pregliasco.
Influence and active call: an invitation to take better care of your health
Currently in Italy the active call only concerns vaccinations for children. While for vaccinations of adults, the elderly and risk categories, it is left to the initiative of the individual Region or the general practitioner. The encouragement of experts and Professor Pregliasco to put into practice an active call for the flu vaccine would therefore serve to protect the health of people who are not aware of the actual risks of flu. At this link the PDF on the Active Call to know more.
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