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Vaccination at Old Age Homes, Primary Health Centres Soon

DUBAI— Health officials will soon start administering the yearly flu vaccine to the elderly at community homes and primary health care centres as a precautionary step before the onset of the winter season which is also expected to see a surge in the spread of influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Health officials have already said that the elderly population, those older than 60 years, is top priority to receive the H1N1 vaccination whenever it is available in the country since they fall in the ‘high-risk group’.

Though medical evidence is not conclusive, the medical fraternity is still debating the possible positive effect of seasonal flu vaccine on the H1N1 virus.

“We are soon going to start administering the seasonal flu vaccine to the people in old (age) homes since we want to take all kinds of precautions against them falling ill due to influenza like illnesses,” said Dr Mohammed Jameel, senior geriatrician and acting head of the Community Centre for the Elderly in Dubai.

Currently, 35 people in the 60-90 age bracket live in the home. The oldest resident is a 97-year-old UAE national.

“Hygiene and the required infection control measures are fully in place at the home since we have to be extra careful for this age group,” he said.

The facility is also equipped with an isolation room while an infection control nurse visits the home every other day. “If visitors to the home are suffering from flu-like symptoms, they are required to wear a mask, gloves and a gown before they visit the elderly resident,” said Dr Jameel.

“However, until now we have had no H1N1 cases among the residents,” 
he added. Other community homes for the elderly run by the Ministries of Health and Social Affairs in Sharjah and Ajman too are following the same procedures. Primary healthcare centres will also soon start administering the seasonal flu vaccine to high-risk groups including pregnant women, people older than 60 and children younger than two, and those with underlying bad health conditions and with low immunity.

“We are expecting the normal flu vaccine to arrive in a couple of weeks,” said Dr Ahmad Kalban, Head of Primary Healthcare at the Dubai 
Health Authority.

“Though this vaccine has been an optional choice until now and reserved mainly for those travelling, this year we will encourage people from the high-risk category to take these shots,” 
he added. In neighbouring Oman, most fatalities due to H1N1 have been elderly people. — asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.ae