The Ministry of Health has issued instructions as regards the COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations, urging vulnerable groups to get the shot.
The vaccines that will be made available for vaccination against the seasonal influenza are Influvac sab-unit Tetra and Efluelda.
Efluelda will only be given to citizens over 60 (subject to availability) and the Influvac sab-unit Tetra vaccine to people over 6 months. The Ministry noted that no serious side effects of the influenza vaccine, have been recorded and the shot is considered safe and effective, according to pharmacovigilance systems operating internationally.
The vaccines are provided for free to all beneficiaries of the national health scheme (GeSY).
Priority will be given to vulnerable and high-risk groups. Vaccination with the flu vaccine will be provided by personal physician with an appointment and the vaccination for COVID-19 by health professionals at adult immunization centers (for 12 years and older) and the Maternity Protection and Child Welfare
Centers (from 6 months to 11 years), on a walk-in basis, according to their operating timetable.
In the event that the beneficiary wishes to be vaccinated with both vaccines at the same time, he/she can be accommodated at the centers as mentioned above on walk-in basis.
All beneficiaries need to show an identification document (ID, passport, ARC). The Ministry said that vaccination against COVID-19 can be done 4 months after the last vaccination and it is necessary to observe a minimum interval of 3 months for vaccination against COVID-19, after a positive test.
People with severe immunosuppression will be able to receive additional doses 4-6 months after the most recent dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, upon written recommendation from their doctor.
Adults who are 60 years of age or older and children over 6 months and up to 17 years of age and other adults who have one or more of the following aggravating factors or chronic conditions are at higher risk for severe illness and complications from seasonal flu
: asthma or other chronic lung diseases, heart disease with severe hemodynamic disturbances, immunosuppression (hereditary or acquired due to disease or immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory therapy), organ transplantation, sickle cell disease (and other severe hemoglobinopathies), diabetes mellitus or other chronic metabolic disease, morbid obesity (metabolic syndrome) with a Body Mass Index (BMI)>40 kg/m2, chronic kidney disease and liver disease and neuromuscular or neurological diseases.
Vulnerable groups also include pregnant women of any age, lactating women and children and adults who take long-term aspirin (eg Kawasaki disease, rheumatoid arthritis and others, for the possible risk of developing Reye’s syndrome after influenza).
For public health reasons the Ministry also advises staff and students of boarding schools, military and police academies, inmates and staff of institutions, recruits in the armed forces, etc.), conscripts in the classification centers and especially those who are classified
during the winter months, workers in health service areas (medical and nursing staff and other workers), professionals, such as veterinarians, poultry farmers, pig farmers, butchers and general people who come into systematic contact with poultry, to get the shot.
With regard to vaccination against COVID-19, the highest risk for severe disease and complications is in those over 60, regardless of age who live or work in nursing homes and closed structures, health care workers, with diabetes diabetes, with severe obesity: BMI =40 or =35, with metabolic syndrome, with severe chronic heart and vascular disease, with chronic severe kidney disease, with severe chronic liver disease, with severe chronic neurological disease, with hemoglobinopathies, pregnant immunodeficient and immunosuppressed patients regardless of age with a history of solid organ transplantation receiving immunosuppressive therapy, with a history of primitive hematopoietic organs receiving immunosuppressive therapy, with hereditary immunodefici
ency, with HIV infection / AIDS, on immunosuppressive therapy including biological agents, with renal failure undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
Regarding cortisone intake applies to patients who received or are receiving a total dose of >10 mg prednisone/day (=8 mg methylprednisolone) for one month in the last six months and people in active treatment for solid tumors and hematological malignancies.
Source: Cyprus News Agency