Now Reading: Flu vaccine only for those above 65, no mask needed: ICMR chief
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Flu vaccine only for those above 65, no mask needed: ICMR chief
ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said the flu vaccine is needed only for people above 65 who are immunocompromised, and there is no urgent need for everyone to take it. He…
ICMR Director General Dr Rajiv Bahl said the flu vaccine is needed only for people above 65 who are immunocompromised, and there is no urgent need for everyone to take it. He said H1N1 accounts for 97-98% of detected influenza cases and is part of a seasonal surge, not a new or unusual strain.
Dr Bahl said there is no need to wear masks as respiratory droplets travel at most one to two metres. He advised high-risk groups, including pregnant women and young children, to consult their physicians about the Northern Hemisphere flu vaccine. Delhi has reported over 2,600 influenza cases so far.
The ICMR said surveillance through the VRDL network will continue to track changes in influenza activity and circulating strains. The public is advised to remain vigilant but not alarmed, and to follow standard hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
Indian Opinion Analysis
India has no universal flu vaccination programme because the disease is seasonal and self-limiting in most people, unlike in countries where annual shots are routine for all ages. The ICMR's own cost-effectiveness analysis, which Dr Bahl referenced, has shaped this targeted approach for years. The real test will be whether hospitalisations among the elderly and immunocompromised rise in the coming weeks, triggering a revision of this advisory. The surveillance network Dr Bahl cited, the VRDL network with over 150 labs, was built after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic and is India's primary early-warning system. The next seasonal peak, typically in the post-monsoon months, will show if the current strain causes severe disease beyond the usual pattern.
Source: newindianexpress.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
