Its new sub-variants Omicron, the onset of the flu earlier than usual, but also the fear of an outbreak of the RSV virus that affects infants and the elderly. While the 3rd year of the pandemic was expected to be much milder, a number of new factors are now worrying experts.

With this data, the update will take place this afternoon National Immunization Planagainst her COVID-19 .

The purpose of the committee is to remind citizens how important it is to get the 4th dose for life. coronavirusthose who belong to susceptible and vulnerable groups, as well as people over 60 years of age, and there will also be a call for vaccination against influenza, which appeared in our country much earlier than usual.

True, vaccinations with the 4th dose are very slow. Until October 25, 2022, 806,110 vaccinations were carried out with the 2nd and 3rd revaccination, while 690,124 vaccinations were carried out for citizens over 60 years of age.those. 22.5% of this age group.

For updated vaccines, there have been 588,860 Pfizer BA1 revaccinations and 193,223 Pfizer BA4/5 revaccinations, with 69,784 scheduled for the future.

Fear of the “triepidemic”

OUR Maria Tsolia Professor of the Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, member of the Committee on Infectious Diseases and member of the National Committee on Vaccination, tells “K” that vaccination with a third dose of reminder for the elderly as well as for vulnerable groups, it does not have a satisfactory pace as we enter the winter period, although the weather is still “deceiving” us.

As he explains, “It worries us. And that worries us because we know that each booster dose automatically lowers the hospitalization curve. And I think we already have the flu, for the first time in 20 years. Children’s hospitals already have them hospitalizations for influenzain children aged 2 to 4 years. So the flu shot should also be supplemented by the data we have right now.

Although in our country and throughout Europe vaccination against influenza is recommended for certain groups (doctors, nurses, caregivers, caregivers, vulnerable groups), as well as for the elderly, as a doctor, I personally think that generalized vaccination against this virus is very useful. for each citizen individually, but also for society as a whole. In America, everyone is vaccinated against the flu from 6 months of age and older.

It should be noted here that according to the latest EODY report, during the week of October 17-23, 2022, visits to doctors and hospitals for influenza care increased compared to the previous week.

The new BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 sub-variants seem to be going their own way, which last week gave me…. your “good morning” 15 cases in our country. The appearance of these sub-variants is expected to be recorded in today’s EODY announcement, which will be released late at noon.

In fact, the new sub-variants will infect 80% of the population by next February, according to the European Center for Infection Prevention (ECDC) data.

What is RSV. Why are children more vulnerable?

In addition to this year’s flu, scientists fear another respiratory virus as it will lead to more hospitalizations among children and the elderly.

Cause of RSV affecting children under 5 years of age, especially infants under 1 year of age, and those over 65 years of age.

As Ms K explains. Holia: “RSV causes bronchiolitis and this can become a severe and complex disease.. And although an RSV vaccine has been developed, it is still in the process of being licensed. I will say here that before this winter, children were in a “sterile” state due to self-isolation, the widespread use of masks and distance learning, and therefore this year they are more vulnerable than in other years.”

He told K and Sofia Purikipulmonologist-resuscitator of the Covid-19 intensive care unit of the Sotaria hospital.

As he noted: “Sotiria is already seeing the first increase in hospitalizations with coronavirus in both single beds and intensive care units,” with all patients either elderly or in vulnerable groups. A concerted onslaught of multiple respiratory viruses could put pressure on hospitals in a different, more complex way than when we had just one coronavirus outbreak.”