Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh maintains there is a sense of urgency, given the seriousness of the influenza virus.
At the launch of the Second Mass Influenza Vaccination Drive at City Hall on Monday, he urged members of the public, particularly those prone to its severe effects, to get vaccinated.
With the Carnival season already in full swing, concerns over the contracting and spread of the influenza virus continue to grow. Minister Deyalsingh, along with the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), stressed that prevention through vaccination at this stage is a priority.
“To date, we have vaccinated 27,717 persons, but we need to get it to about 50,000, where, if people get influenza, they don’t die. They don’t get seriously ill, as opposed to the common cold.”
Minister Deyalsingh said the urgency to get vaccinated comes at the height of the season when viruses tend to come from those visiting.
With the response time of the vaccine being 14 days, he urged the public to take advantage of the drive.
“When you get the influenza vaccine, it takes two weeks for your body to mount an immune response. That is, you can’t take the vaccine today and expect you are immune from tomorrow. It takes fourteen days for your body to recognise what is going on and mount an effective immune response.”
Considering the severity of the influenza virus, Minister Deyalsingh encouraged people, particularly those vulnerable to its effects, to be vaccinated.
“It is vitally important for the elderly to get vaccinated. Children, those with chronic diseases, like those who are on dialysis, cancer patients, diabetic patients. Those are the populations we are extremely concerned about.”
Intentionally positioned within proximity, the Mass Vaccination Sites in the East are at the Toco Health Centre, the Mayaro District Health Facility, the Rio Claro Health Centre, and the Sangre Grande Enhanced Health Centre.
In the North: St. Joseph Enhanced Health Centre, Xtra Foods O’Meara Road in Arima, and the Chaguanas Accident and Emergency.
In South West: Gulf City Mall, Point Fortin Hospital, and the Couva District Health Facility.