In 2020, Kazakhstanis will be vaccinated against three strains of influenza
This year Kazakhstanis will be vaccinated against three strains of the virus. 10% of the population will receive free vaccinations, for which more than 2 million doses of vaccine have been purchased. Zhumabek Bekenov, Director of the Department of Prevention of Infectious Diseases of the National Center for Public Health announced this at a briefing in the CCS. He also spoke about the prevention of infectious diseases in the autumn-winter period.
According to Bekenov, from 500 thousand to 1 million cases of acute respiratory viral infections are registered annually in Kazakhstan, the main share among the sick with acute respiratory viral infections in children under 14 years old – 64.2%. At the same time, the current epidemic season raises concern in connection with the current epidemiological situation with COVID-19.
“As COVID-19 continues to be reported, comparisons have been made to influenza. First, the COVID-19 and influenza viruses have a similar disease pattern. That is, they both cause respiratory illness, which is a wide range of diseases, from asymptomatic or mild to severe and fatal. Secondly, both viruses are transmitted by contact, droplet and domestic routes. As a result, the same public health measures such as hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette (coughing into the elbow or tissue and immediately disposing of tissue) are essential to prevent infection, ”explained the Department Director.
The epidemic season of ARVI, (influenza-like diseases) and influenza will begin in October and will last until May. In the upcoming season, influenza in Kazakhstan will be designated by the functioning of three strains: A (H1N1) – Guangdong-Maonan, A (H3N2) – Hong Kong, and B – Washington, which, on the recommendation of the World Health Organization, were included in the trivalent vaccine used in Kazakhstan.
“Every year in Kazakhstan, more than 10% of the population is vaccinated since October. In 2020, more than 2 million doses of the Grippol + vaccine, produced in Russia, were purchased with budget funds. The vaccine contains antigens of A (H3N2) and A (H1N1) and B influenza strains, ”Bekenov said.
In general, during the 2019-2020 epidemic season, 426,818 thousand cases of ARVI were registered in the republic, including 2,545 cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza. In addition to influenza, flu-like viruses also circulate in Kazakhstan. Last season, about 5 thousand samples were examined, mainly rhinovirus, MS virus, parainfluenza, metapneumovirus, bocavirus, and adenovirus infection were detected. For the purpose of prevention, everyone can get a paid vaccination against influenza, which is carried out in private vaccination centers, in the vaccination rooms of polyclinics at the place of residence, having permission from the authorized body in the field of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population. The addresses of such medical institutions conducting vaccination against influenza will be posted on the websites of the Health Administration, territorial departments of KKKBTU at the place of residence.
In addition, the Director of the Department asked not to forget about the basic rules for the prevention of influenza and ARVI.
In addition to influenza vaccination, there are also nonspecific measures for the prevention of both influenza and other influenza-like diseases (ARVI). Such as the:
– limiting the time spent in crowded places;
– the use of disposable masks in closed rooms and crowded places;
– if possible, limit contact with people who have signs of the disease, such as sneezing or coughing;
– wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and water, especially after the street and public transport;
– rinsing the nasal cavity with saline, especially after the street and public transport;
– often ventilate the room in which you are;
– regularly do wet cleaning in the room in which you are;
– humidify the air in the room you are in;
– eat as many foods as possible containing vitamin C (cranberries, rose hips, sea buckthorn, currants, lemon, etc.);
– on the recommendation of a doctor, use drugs and drugs that increase immunity.