The medical community breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday as the influenza vaccine was back in pharmacies, following a two-month delay in its release.
Ninety-three cases of influenza were reported since April 20 in 73 sites around Gauteng, a figure probably representative of the whole country, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases’ (NCID) Dr Lucille Blumberg said in a statement.
The medical community has ”heaved a sigh of relief” with the release, said the medical director of SAA-Netcare travel clinics, Dr Andrew Jamieson.
”We have been most concerned about the numbers of at-risk people who missed out on their flu shots this year.”
The delay in release of the vaccine was caused by a problem with the formulation related to one of the three viral antigens
All three strains of influenza — the A:H3N2, A:H1N1 and the B strain — are preventable by the vaccine and are currently in circulation.
”The influenza season has already started and our laboratory has already made a substantial number of isolations, and it is therefore imperative that vaccine is given to high-risk individuals and their contacts as soon as possible,” NCID director Barry Schoub commented.
He said immunity will start 10 to 14 days after receiving the vaccine. The influenza season usually lasts up to 12 weeks.
High-risk individuals include anyone over the age of 65, international travellers, women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and people with suppressed immune systems, including those who are HIV-positive. — Sapa