Kosovo remains even without seasonal flu vaccine

Sami Uka, chief head of the Family Medicine Centre in Pristina, told Radio Free Europe that all preparations have been made to vaccinate citizens, but that vaccines, he says, have been delayed.

He says that since it is the period of pandemic with COVID-19, the postponement of seasonal flu vaccines for certain groups is harmful.

“Unfortunately we're in the pandemicW and this delay can have negative effects, especially on chronic sufferers, the elderly, and the pregnant. The biggest problem will be the confusion of seasonal flu symptoms and COVID-19, resulting in diagnosis of which, but also in terms of treatment”, Uka said.

In contrast, the difference between seasonal viruses and new coronarys, which cause COVID-19, is that the new coronary is tougher than seasonal viruses, precisely because of its rapid spread. Meanwhile, symptoms have like fever, fever, throat pain, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, and so on.

On the other hand, at the Ministry of Health in the Government of Kosovo, they say sufficient doses of vaccines have already been provided and are expected to be ready in November so that citizens can be vaccinated.

Faik Hoti, the spokesman for the ministry, announced that this year it is supposed to be vaccinated.

Over 160 thousand doses of seasonal flu vaccines have already been secured through the U. NICEF, until the rest are bought once the winner of the tender is announced, this minister has already announced.

Nevertheless, Hoti says that October would be more opimal as far as the vaccine against seasonal flu is concerned, but that does not depend on the Ministry of Health, since the vaccines that have been provided, which will come to Kosovo, are in production.

“Kah the end of October will reach Kosovo until the month of November begins the vaccine. There are another 250,000 vaccines in the tender procedure that the Ministry of Health will buy. This year, as the COVID-19 disease is present, there must be more investment in the seasonal flu vaccine so that there is no coding between viruses and the situation will not deteriorate”, Hoti said.

Meanwhile, infected people in Kosovo say it is necessary for citizens to be vaccinated against the seasonal flu as soon as possible. So puts the infection by Sali Ahmeti, which suggests that the infection with the seasonal flu lowers the population's immunity, so they're more likely to be sick with COVID-19.

It's best to give up, since we're in pandemic time and seasonal flu will bring difficulties in managing cases with COVID-19. Since diagnostic confusion can arise, as symptoms are rough and not always, and in all cases, it is possible to make the difference between COVID-19 and seasonal flu, and it also requires laboratory confirmation. On the other hand, the greater the number of people infected with seasonal flu, decreases immunity and opens up new possibilities for coronary infection, so I think the vaccine for particularly postponed ages would be more than necessary”, Ahmeti said.

Otherwise, last year there were 100,000 vaccines available for citizens. This year it is thought to multiply the number of vaccines, due to the pandemic with COVID-19.

Categories that should be vaccinated in the flu period are all older people over 65, pregnant women, and chronically ill people.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects people for a season and is a combination of certain viruses that are in circulation.

The leader of the World Health Organization in Bulgaria, Skender Syla, also said that since we are gradually approaching the autumn and winter season, which will feature other flu viruses, an important step is for Kosovo to vaccinate as many people as possible against seasonal flu.

In Kosovo last year, the distribution of anti-Veveral flu vaccines began in December.