Covid-19: Demand for flu vaccine grows
People with underlying health conditions should be first in line to receive flu shots.
A CLINICAL pharmacist is pleading with pharmaceutical companies to prioritise needy people for flu vaccines as demand grows for it amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Shafrudeen Amod a clinical pharmacist, said there’s already a shortage of flu vaccines in the country and people who are over 65 years of age, have underlying conditions and are immuno-compromised should be first in line to receive a flu vaccine.
“There is no use giving it to a healthy 25 year old male with no pre-existing condition. Anytime there’s a shortage of medicine, we are given a criteria for who will get it first and be prioritised,” he said.
Pharmaceutical giant, Clicks, reported a significant demand for flu vaccines saying it had administered four times the amount compared to last year.
“With vulnerable groups such as the elderly, immuno-compromised, pregnant women and children being prioritised, the demand has been driven as customers make every effort to boost their immune systems and protect themselves from the flu,” it said in a statement.
ALSO READ: SASSA grant payment dates changed
Amod said the coronavirus has obviously made people scared of contracting the flu.
“Everyone wants to protect themselves from the flu because if you have it, your immune system is depressed making you more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus,” he said.
According to coronavirus tracking sites, the virus has a higher fatality rate among people older than 65.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za)
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
