A senior health official has emphasized on the importance of taking both vaccines, the one against flu and COVID-19.
In a video posted on Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) social media handles Dr Soha Al Bayat, Head of Vaccination, MoPH said that it is important to take the flu vaccine to protect oneself from influenza, thereby reducing the burden on the health system.
“With the winter season fast approaching it also means it also means the season for in influenza. Influenza is not a simple disease as some may think; it actually causes admission of hundreds of thousands of people across the world. And unfortunately it also leads to the death of some,” said Dr. Al Bayat.
The Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation have announced that the annual seasonal influenza vaccination campaign on September 1.
The health sector has launched the campaign early this year as experts warn that the flu season may start earlier than usual this year.
“To protect yourself you have to take influenza vaccine annually as the viruses change. And to make it easily accessible for all in the state of Qatar it’s been made available in all primary healthcare centres and more than 40 private clinics and semi government clinics for free for all,” she added.
She specifically children below 5, pregnant women, those above 50 years, people with chronic illnesses and the healthcare workers to take the flu vaccine.
The second flu season during the pandemic is about to start, though this will be the first flu season where many have received vaccine against COVID-19.
Dr Al Bayat has said that getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19 or vice versa.
“I would like to remind you the flu vaccine does not protect you from COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine does not protect you from the seasonal influenza,” said Dr Al Bayat.
“So we encourage you to take both to protect yourself and those around you,” she said.
While, the official website for the flu vaccine campaign by the Ministry said, influenza and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection with
influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis. Flu and COVID-19 share many characteristics, but there are some key differences between the two.
More information including where to get the flu vaccine in Qatar and FAQs about the flu and COVID-19 can be found on the campaign website www.fighttheflu.qa