Influenza, commonly known as ‘flu, is a viral infection that is easily spread from one person to another through sneezing and coughing.
The hospital’s clinical manager Dr Sasiwe Mbeleki said, “The vaccine is not administered to people who already have influenza or those who do not present its symptoms. One shot is enough to prevent you from getting ‘flu the entire ‘flu season.”
She said the vaccine enhances the immune system and reduces influenza mobility and mortality. “It also limits the burden on the healthcare system,” she said.
She stressed that only certain individuals are eligible for the vaccine. “The vaccine is only given to children between 6 months and five years, hospital employees, pregnant women, people with asthma, heart disease, diabetes, TB and adults over 65 years of age.”
Dr Mbeleki explained that if parents vaccinated their children under the age of five for ‘flu, they will not easily get sick when they spend time with other children in daycare centres.
