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Health authorities urge parents to vaccinate their children against influenza after the death of a baby and the admission of 18 other children to a Sydney hospital between early April and the beginning of April. early July
<p clbad = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "A two-year-old baby is died last Sunday at the Sydney Hospital in Westmead after being infected with strain A. "data-reactid =" 16 "> A two-year-old baby died last Sunday at the Sydney Children & # 39; s Hospital in Westmead after being infected with the influenza A strain.
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A baby is dead and 18 other children were admitted in a Sydney hospital between April and early July. Source: File / Getty
On Friday, NSW Health relaunched a statement reminding parents of its free flu vaccination initiative for children under five, urging parents not to leave before It's too late. Dr. Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Medical Officer of Health, said 19 children had been admitted to the Westmead Children's Hospital between early April and 8 July.
Seventeen of these children had contracted influenza A (H1N1). The children were eligible for the free flu shot, but only two of them had been vaccinated against the flu, "said Dr. Chant.
Dr. Vicky Sheppeard, NSW Health's Director of Communicable Diseases, said it should not be as devastating as the 2017 flu season – the worst ever in Australia since the 2009 pandemic.
influenza vaccination in New South Wales are on the rise. Source: File / AAP
"The year 2017 was the worst in a long time, with more than 100,000 confirmed cases of influenza in New South Wales alone," said Dr. Sheppeard at Yahoo7. in early June, and lasted at least eight weeks – it's a long flu season. Last year, we had more than 6,000 confirmed cases, while last week we had only 250.
"For the moment, things are rather calm, but we expect that the flu season will begin "
Dr. Sheppeard stated that last year's outbreak was severe because the strain was hurting seniors.
Dr. Sheppeard said that the alternative of not being vaccinated is invariably worse Source: File / AAP
"This year, a different variety is circulating, called A flu (H1N1), which strikes mainly children and adults. young adults, "she said.
More vaccines were distributed than at the same time last year, indicating that more people are being vaccinated. warning against complacency
"It is particularly important that small children be vaccinated because the H1N1 strain has not circulated for several years, "she said.
"They will not have any immunity against this strain, which is why we particularly want parents to take advantage of the free flu vaccination program."
Pregnant women are eligible for free vaccination against influenza during pregnancy, which will provide them with antibodies for the first six months. From that point on, any child between the ages of six months and five years is entitled to free vaccination, "said Dr. Sheppeard
. they are in playgroups or preschools, they have not learned to cover their mouths when they cough or wipe their noses.
"They were not exposed to particular strains just because you did not live long enough to have immunity to strain A. The only one way to get immunity against this strain is to have a vaccine or to contract the infection and get sick.
"Obviously we would prefer the first option."
NSW Health urges parents to remember this flu can result in hospitalization or even death, and that it's not too late to to get vaccinated. Source: File / Getty
Despite a recent surge of "anti-vaxxers," who claim that the flu vaccine has adverse side effects for children, Dr. Sheppeard said that vaccination rates continued to increase. In the last decades and even in the past five years, we have found that the vaccines on the national calendar, that is, free and available to all children, are improving. one quarter on the other, "said Dr. Sheppeard. 19659032] "In New South Wales, we have 94% of fully immunized children and 97% of Aboriginal children.
" Anti-virus has been active for a long time; we believe that they only represent one to two percent of the population. We are seeing a steady improvement in vaccination rates, so we think the number of anti-vaxxers is likely decreasing.
While understanding the concerns some parents may have about the side effects of the flu shot, Dr. Sheppeard stated
"We rely on evidence that has been reviewed by experts and that monitors and We are convinced that the available vaccines are safe and effective, "she said.
" We recognize that vaccines can have side effects, we understand it, but the side effects are very low in relation to the disease itself which, as we have seen recently, can lead to hospitalization and even death. "
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