Ramp up flu vaccine for kids: Doctors tell Uddhav Thackeray

In the first webinar held with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to discuss ways of safeguarding children in the third wave paediatricians said the flu vaccine should be included in the national immunisation programme They emphasised the need to administer the influenza vaccine to kids before the monsoonThey said this will ensure they donrsquot land up in hospitals with symptoms common in Covid19 Influenza is a respiratory viral infection and has clinical symptoms overlapping with Covid19A health worker screens a child at Dadar station on Sunday PicAshish RajeldquoThe Indian Academy of Paediatrics IAP has been talking about the importance of vaccinating children against influenza In the US and many European countries influenza vaccine is part of the government immunisation programme In India that isnrsquot the case This year we are requesting the government to include influenza vaccine because of the pandemic so that underprivileged children can also benefitrdquo said Dr Suhas Prabhu paediatrician and chairperson of the statersquos paediatric task forceCanrsquot have the two coincidingFlu cases generally increase in monsoon and the third wave is expected to hit in six months Dr Prabhu said that if the flu epidemic coincides with the Covid19 wave it might create havoc ldquoEvery mother whose child gets a little fever runny nose and cough will suspect Covid19 and rush to a Covid19 centre The child may not even have Covid19 and may get exposed to the virus Even for the doctor it is difficult to differentiate between Covid19 and flu by looking at the child because symptoms are similar Only a test can confirm Flu vaccinations would reduce cases and thereby the burden on the healthcare systemrdquo explained Dr PrabhuDr Vijay Yewale paediatrician and member of the state paediatric task force said that in children aged less than five years and in those with comorbidities influenza can cause severe illness requiring hospitalisation ldquoMost flu in India occurs during monsoon and an outbreak will add to the burdenrdquo said Dr YewaleHe said influenza is a vaccinepreventable disease and a safe vaccine is available and in use in the private sector ldquoRoughly 15 per cent of acute viral infections in paediatrics is flu And in developing countries like India it is a cause of pneumonia and death of children aged under five IAP recommends flu vaccination of children between six months and five years and all those with comorbidities regardless of agerdquo emphasised Dr YewaleThe paediatric and the state task force for adults strongly recommended getting influenza and other nonCovid19 vaccines ldquoWhile we attend to Covid19 it is important to not lag behind in vaccinating children against vaccinepreventable diseases to sustain the gains achievedrdquo said Dr YewaleCM Thackeray said that he will look into the flu vaccine concerns raised by the paediatriciansWalkin for seniors from Monday to WednesdayA senior citizen receives a vaccine shot at Rajawadi hospital Ghatkopar PicSayyed Sameer AbediThe BMC has extended the walkin system for senior citizens for this week Seniors can take their first or second dose directly at vaccination centres from Monday to Wednesday Health workers frontline workers and beneficiaries of the second dose of Covaxin can also take a jab without registration on these days From May 27 to 29 vaccination will be done only through registration The drive will be closed on Sunday May 30 The BMC would communicate any change in the schedule a day earlier A Correspondent5 yrsVulnerable age up to which influenza causes pneumonia and death1537Proportion of flu cases among acute viral infections