| Issue |
june-july, 2020 | The Health
29
Protect your
loved ones
Influenza virus
infection more vicious
than the cold
Dr Salehuddin
Samsudin.
By Khirtini K Kumaran
As we fight to contain the
Covid-19 pandemic, let’s not
forget that other infectious
viruses are circulating out
there, notably seasonal
influenza.
The “Flu Prevention is an
Act of Love”, a significant
community education campaign, is
urging the public to have their routine
vaccinations, especially those among
high-risk groups.
The risk of seasonal influenza is
still present, and we should never
underestimate the threat it poses.
History has shown how deadly an
influenza outbreak can be. The Spanish
Flu pandemic back in 1918 infected 500
million people, which was about a third of
the world’s population at the time. It was
the deadliest pandemic in human history,
and the death toll estimated at almost 100
million.
The influenza virus attacks the
respiratory system, which could lead to
serious health complications and even
death, especially to those in the high-risk
groups. Annually, up to 650,000 deaths
worldwide due to complications from
seasonal influenza such as pneumonia.
Vaccines against influenza
While influenza poses lethal threats,
there is no need to fear. Vaccines against
influenza are available, and all we have to
do is get vaccinated. The “Flu Prevention
is an Act of Love” hopes to increase the
vaccination rate in Malaysia.
Dr Salehuddin Samsudin, Consultant
Paediatrician and Neonatologist at
ParkCity Medical Centre, stressed on
the importance of having vaccinations
regularly. The World Health Organisation
(WHO) and Center for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommend the general
public gets the vaccines at least once a year.
According to Dr Salehuddin, the best
influenza vaccines available can cover
against four of the main types of influenza
viruses commonly circulating.
“The reason why we advocate everyone,
especially those who are in the high-risk
group, to get the influenza vaccine is
because it is the best way to prevent severe
complications,” he emphasised.
The high-risk groups are children
below five years old, pregnant women,
older individuals aged 65 years and
above, individuals with chronic medical
conditions and finally, healthcare workers.
They are susceptible to the influenza
virus and once infected, it can lead to
serious complications such as secondary
pneumonia, inflammation of the lungs,
heart, brain or muscle tissue, and even
multi-organ failure, ultimately leading to
death.
“It is not to be taken lightly,” said Dr
For instance, the influenza vaccine is
one of the most widely given vaccines
in the world and it is very safe”.
– Dr Salehuddin Samsudin
Shazril Shaharuddin, better known as Dr
Say Shazril, father to year-old Aezriel.
To see his children suffering from
vaccine-preventable diseases such as
influenza is probably one of the heartaches
that a young father should never
go through.
Dr Say should know. His son, Aezriel,
was diagnosed with influenza when he
was barely two months old. His condition
got worse, and Azriel was admitted to the
hospital. Aezriel’s health continued to
deteriorate, and he had to be supported
with a high-flow nasal cannula. The sound
of the ventilator helping his son breathe is
a sound that haunts Dr Say till today.
“I hope other parents would never
Two-month-old Aezriel,
diagnosed with influenza.
Dr Say Shazril with son
Aezriel.
have to experience this,” he said, advising
parents to make sure their children get
their scheduled vaccination on time
and if possible to get the other optional
treatments as well, such as the influenza
vaccination.
“Prevention is better than cure,” he
implored.
Many take the risk of influenza lightly,
mistaking it with the common cold. But
the influenza virus infection is much more
vicious than the cold. Both flu and cold are
respiratory illnesses.
They are caused by different viruses but
exhibit similar symptoms such as runny
or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough and body
aches. The influenza symptoms, however,
include a dry hacking cough and moderate
to high fever.
A lot of information on the internet and
social media, especially on the side effects
of vaccines, is not valid.
Dr Salehuddin added: “For instance, the
influenza vaccine is one of the most widely
given vaccines in the world and it is very
safe”.
The most common side effect is minor
swelling at the place of injection, which
would go away by itself in one or two days.
Disheartening
It is disheartening to know some people
refuse to vaccinate, especially the antivaccine
activists. These group of people do
not only put the health of themselves and
their loved ones at risk, but it could lead
to a breakout of much deadlier influenza
infection to the broader population.
In recent years, there had been a
re-emergence of vaccine-preventable
diseases such as measles and polio due to
not getting the preventive vaccine shots.
Last year, Malaysia reported its first case of
polio which was eradicated 28 years.
“It’s such a shame because it took a lot
of work to eradicate polio in our country,”
lamented Dr Salehuddin.
Both Dr Salehuddin and Dr Say hope
the absence of a vaccine against Covid-19
can create awareness and make the public
better understand the importance of the
influenza vaccination.
They both advocate the “Flu Prevention
is an Act of Love” campaign’s continued
efforts to drive the urgency of routine flu
vaccinations, especially among high-risk
groups. — The Health