Experts urge children to be vaccinated against flu

As children return to school, there is an increase in cases of influenza, a disease that affects 10 to 20% of the population in a typical year. causes 3 to 5 million serious cases and about 650,000 deaths worldwide. According to Dr. Ivan Sanz, responsible
scientific and virological surveillance of the National Influenza Center of Valladolid, “it is estimated that between 4000 and 6000 children will be hospitalized due to flu this season in Spain.

In this context, AstraZeneca launched a campaign Flu schoolan initiative that aims to raise awareness of the impact of influenza and communicate preventive measures to try to avoid the spread of the disease among children and their families.

The incidence of influenza in children is higher than in adults, and children are at high risk for complications associated with influenza. In fact, two out of every three children hospitalized for the flu have no risk factors. “Flu is a disease that is often underestimated.“explains Dr. Ivan Sanz, “however, we must keep in mind that this can have serious consequences, especially in children and the elderly.”

For this reason the campaign Flu school, which is part of the ABCD Flu initiative, reminds us of the importance of knowledge of influenza and how to prevent it, especially in the pediatric population. Through the video, kids demonstrate that they can not only understand the cause of the flu, but also explain how to prevent the disease and protect the most vulnerable in the population.

“IN AstraZeneca We recognize the burden that influenza places on families and the healthcare system and strongly believe that when it comes to influenza, education is prevention. For this reason, as part of our commitment to the health of people, especially the youngest and most vulnerable, we are working on information campaigns that help communicate the consequences of this disease and measures to prevent it,” he explains. Pilar PasaronPR Manager
AstraZeneca, Spain.

As experts explain, during flu outbreaks, children are usually the first to get sick, and the highest rates of flu incidence are observed in group of children from 0 to 4 years oldfollowed by those under 15 years of age. In addition, children are considered a fundamental factor in the chain of transmission of influenza because they shed large amounts of virus over a longer period of time.

For this reason, during the campaign presentation, experts emphasized the importance of protecting babies from influenza. And it is assumed that in Spain, flu Every year there are about 1,000 hospitalizations with severe complications and about 10 deaths among children under 15 years of age.

“Those of us who work with influenza are well aware of its consequences, but there is still a lot of work to be done because the public has no real understanding of the seriousness of this disease,” explains Dr. Fernando Sanchez PeralesMedical Director of the Vitas Madrid La Milagrosa University Hospital and President of the Pediatric Society of Madrid and Castilla-La Mancha.

Prevention measures against influenza

In this context, experts emphasize the importance of security measures. prevention against influenza. Simple gestures such as adequate hygiene, hand washing and, in some cases, social distancing, coupled with adherence to vaccination schedules, can help prevent infection.

Besides, Advisory Committee on Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV AEP) recommends that health authorities consider vaccination of children and adolescents aged 6 months to 18 years to be systematic, especially in children from 6 to 59 months. Especially in this group, experts recommend that available measures be taken by public health authorities, medical personnel and scientific societies to achieve, as a primary goal, increasing coverage in this group.

“Anything we can do to prevent flu is welcome. Of course, vaccination, hand washing and self-isolation in case of infection. Flu symptoms – effective measures and we must put them into action. We must be aware that a child, just because he is healthy, is not immune from complications caused by the flu,” concludes Dr. Ivan Sanz.