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28 March 2024

Get winter ready but where are flu vaccines?

Published
By Shuchita Kapur

The flu season will soon be here and as always doctors and medical practitioners are advising residents to take a shot to keep the seasonal health problems at bay.

However, there seems to be a shortage of seasonal flu vaccines in private clinics and hospitals in the city.

Netizens are complaining on popular online forums that flu vaccine for the season is not readily available yet.

“I’ve phoned a few clinics and they get it only end of September (they all have the same story),” a post reads.

“We still don’t have the flu vaccine for the season and we have not been updated about the availability of the stock,” said a call centre executive at Aster Pharmacy.

Some Mediclinic hospitals too are out of stock. “Vaccines are sold out and we do not have stock right now. Can you please check after a week?” said an executive at a clinic run by Mediclinic.

Clinics and hospitals in Dubai are advising residents to take the seasonal shot. For example, Panacea Medical & Wellness Centre has devoted this entire month to campaign and promote protection against flu.

“September is Flu protection month at Panacea. To protect our patrons, we are offering the Flu vaccination from 15 September to 15 October 2013 for adults and children at a discounted rate. Protect your family today,” reads an e-mail sent out by the clinic.

However, a phone call to the clinic reveals they too are out of stock. “We’ve run out of stock and expect new vaccines to be in by middle of the month or possibly the third week,” said the pharmacist at the centre.

Flu is a common problem and is easily transmitted. It can range from a simple cold to more serious problems like pneumonia. Patients suffering seasonal flu complain of symptoms like cough, headache, fever, sore throat, and aching muscles and joints.

The number of seasonal flu cases increased by about 15 to 20 per cent last winter as per Preventive Services Centre at Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

The seasonal flu activity lasts from September till February. According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are two main types of influenza (flu) virus — types A and B. The influenza A and B viruses are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year.

Haj pilgrims are already being advised to take the flu vaccine early. The DHA has recommended that pilgrims should get vaccinated at least two weeks prior to travel.

The mandatory vaccinations are done against meningitis, seasonal influenza and pneumonia for the elderly and people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart problems.

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)