WHO: «The pandemic of the new
flu can't stop anymore"
flu can't stop anymore"
Strategies in preparation for September. Priority to vaccinating health workers
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| (ap) |
ROME - The new flu pandemic "cannot be stopped". "At this point it is necessary to adapt the contrast strategy to national situations, bearing in mind however the need to immunize health workers to guarantee assistance to the population during the next flu season, in autumn". The indications that emerged from the recent meeting of the World Health Organization's Committee of Specialists on Influenza last week were illustrated by Marie-Paule Kieny, director of Initiative for Vaccine Research at WHO, during a teleconference from Geneva.
VACCINE IN AUTUMN – Kieny's words revealed that, however, experts are collecting data on the behavior of the pathogen responsible for the new flu in patients of various age groups. "Information that will already be available in September, on the eve of the flu season, and will allow us to produce specific recommendations," explains the WHO manager. "All manufacturers are working to ensure the availability of the pandemic vaccine, which will be available between September and October," Kieny said.
THREE ADMINISTRATION – The approach should be in three administrations to ensure a shield effect against seasonal influenza and the H1N1 virus. Don't worry about timing. “It won't be too late to get vaccinated,” says Kieny. "We have various strategies and we are discussing with governments and manufacturers, also to try to ensure equity in the availability of the pandemic vaccine".
GROUPS AT RISK – At the moment, health workers are the "priority group from the point of view of protective vaccination against the H1N1 virus". But there are other groups that are being closely monitored. "It seems that obese people are more at risk, even if it is not known - the expert points out - whether this apparent vulnerability is due to excess weight or to other conditions linked to obesity itself". “However – says Kieny – this is one of the groups for which immunization with the pandemic vaccine is being considered. Another category targeted by specialists is that of small children, even if there is no specific vaccine to protect this segment of the population from the new flu"
Source:www.corriere.it
