- Study reveals high-dose flu vaccine reduces mortality in elderly by 48.9% and hospitalization by 64.4%
- 8 out of 10 deaths from influenza in the elderly aged 65 and over.
- Elderly people are 10 times more likely to get seriously ill from the flu than working-age people.
More than 400 experts from around the world and Southeast Asia recently attended a regional scientific conference on influenza, offering advice on how to protect the elderly from influenza: Protection Beyond Flu.
The meeting presented key insights on several issues. Including the burden of influenza among people with comorbidities, the impact of influenza in the Southeast Asian region, strategies to increase national vaccination rates. Methods to better evaluate influenza vaccines to ensure effective options selecte. These discussions highlighted the need to address influenza by providing greater protection to reduce the disease burden and improve the quality of life of older adults.
Elderly people are 10 times more at risk of contracting influenza than working-age people.
Older adults are 10 times more likely to hospitalized for influenza complications than working-age people. While 8 out of 10 influenza-related deaths occur in people over 65.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Teerapong Tanthavichien, Assistant Director for Academic Affairs and Acting Head of Clinical Services and Research, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute, Thai Red Cross Society, participated in the discussion and shared the progress of influenza vaccination in Thailand. In Thailand, awareness of the dangers of influenza and the disease burden has increased significantly.
The government has initiated a free influenza vaccination program since 2011, initially providing 1-2 million doses per year to the elderly ทางเข้า ufabet and at-risk groups. It has now increased to 6 million doses per year. When combined with 3 million doses from the private market, the Vaccination Coverage Rate (VCR) is 12% of the population and 30% of the elderly population , which is high in our region but still below the WHO target of 75% vaccination coverage for vulnerable groups. Thailand aims to increase vaccination to 12 million doses in the coming years to better protect vulnerable groups.