A medical expert, Professor Olusoji Fasanmade, has warned that influenza infection or flu can also make chronic health problems, like diabetes and heart disease worse.
Professor Fasanmade, speaking at the 2020 workshop of the Public Health nursing department of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, stated that without flu vaccination, the risk of hospitalisation and death from diabetes can be tremendously higher than in the rest of the population.
According to him, the increased possibility of diabetes complications and death was why the American Diabetic Association recommended that such individuals be vaccinated against flu just before the flu season starts in temperate countries.
Fasanmade said influenza virus causes a lot of deaths in those with low immunity, including pregnant women, children less than 5 years and adults older than 65 years of age that have chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, asthma and HIV.
The medical expert stated, “if an individual with coronary heart disease now has influenza, his chance of a heart attack is higher. It has been established that heart attack occurs more during the influenza season in developed countries.”
The expert said Africa is not immune to flu as studies in the past six years have shown that in Nigeria people come down with flu every month of the year.
He declared that a yearly flu jab is over 90 per cent protective against influenza infection in vulnerable groups such as persons with chronic illnesses, pregnant women and elderly people and is safe even in pregnancy.
Professor Fasanmade, however, said that influenza infection is different from the common cold which is milder.
According to him, symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Also, some people may also have vomiting and diarrhoea, and it’s possible to have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
Professor Fansamade urged the Federal Government to review its policy on influenza vaccination, saying “it is a cost-effective measure in protecting those vulnerable to the influenza virus in the country.”
He also charged nurses to be vigilant and proactive in raising awareness on the importance of flu vaccine among patients and the community.
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