The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has called on people to get the seasonal influenza vaccination, available free of charge at primary healthcare centres.
In particular, the categories most vulnerable to high-risk factors should take the vaccine to avoid complications resulting from influenza, the MoPH said in a press statement.
Reports by the National Influenza Centre in Qatar, approved by the World Health Organisation, showed that considerable influenza activity was expected to continue throughout the winter, right until April next year.
The ministry said around 80,000 people in different age categories have been vaccinated against influenza since September, and no severe side effects of the vaccine have been recorded even in a single case. The MoPH is keen to provide the best, most advanced and safe vaccines, the statement notes.
The ministry has advised those aged six months and above to take the vaccine, especially those with chronic diseases such as diabetes, bronchitis, cardiopulmonary disease, kidney ailments and cancer, as well as people who are more than 60 years old, pregnant women, health professionals and children aged between six months and five years.
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