QNA
DOHA
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has called upon the people and groups most vulnerable to get free seasonal influenza vaccine.Receiving the vaccine before the peak influenza season allows the body to build immunity to reduce the spread of influenza, especially among people at risk of complications, HMC said.
HMC said the current period before the start of the winter season is the best time for all members of society to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine, especially for those most at risk of complications.
In this regard, Dr Muna Al Maslamani, Medical Director of Hamad General Hospital and CEO of the Communicable Disease Center at Hamad Medical Corporation, said: "Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that sometimes affect the nose, throat, and lungs, causing mild to severe illness and sometimes leading to death.”
She pointed out that the groups most vulnerable to complications from the virus are people over the age of 50, those with chronic diseases regardless of age, children from 6 months to 5 years old, pregnant women, health care workers, and caregivers.
Seasonal influenza vaccines are available free of charge in all Primary Health Care Centres, outpatient clinics at Hamad Medical Corporation, and in more than 30 private and semi-private clinics and hospitals in Qatar.