Military doctor “Concerned about people’s health during the rainy season Advice for good health Preventing influenza illnesses.”
from the information from the Department of Disease Control Ministry of Health found that the influenza situation since From January 1 to September 8, 2022, there were 22,922 confirmed cases and one death in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. By the past August 6,425 cases were reported, with a marked increase in cases compared to the same period last year (Aug. 64, 283 cases) and the age group at which the most cases were found. This year, children were born 4 years old, followed by the age group 5-14 years and the age group 15-24 years, respectively. The top five provinces with the highest morbidity rates were Udon Thani, Narathiwat, Phayao, Phatthalung and Chiang Rai.
Because during this period is the rainy season. with rain and hot weather The body may not be able to adjust in time. Can cause sickness with influenza and especially 7 risk groups: 1. Pregnant women, 4 months of pregnancy or more 2. Young children under 2 years old 3. People with chronic diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease. Y Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and diabetes 4. Elderly people 65 years and over 5. Cerebral palsy who cannot help themselves 6. Thalassemia and those with impaired immune systems This included symptomatic HIV-infected people; and 7. Obesity, those who weigh more than 100 kg or have a body mass index of more than 35 kg/m2. If this group is sick, they may have more severe symptoms than the general population.
Including during this period may find more influenza patients. Because after the relaxation of Covid-19 prevention measures Many people have reduced their strictness to wearing masks. and there are activities with a large number of people gathered, such as a dinner party. or drink alcohol together thus causing respiratory diseases In particular, influenza may return to epidemic. In addition, the reason for the decline in COVID-19 is that during the past, there has been a widespread outbreak of Covid-19, causing more than 90 percent of Thai people to be immune from infection and vaccination. increased group immunity Therefore, it is the reason that the number of people infected with COVID-19 has decreased. Therefore, strict measures for wearing masks, social distancing, washing hands frequently, including screening, surveillance, and receiving influenza vaccination services, especially the 7 risk groups, have concerns. important will reduce the number of severely ill patients and death from influenza.”
We would like to emphasize that influenza vaccination is still necessary even after vaccination against COVID-19 as it is a different virus. People should get both vaccines. Influenza vaccination can be given along with the coviral-19 vaccine (recommended to be given on each arm), especially for people at risk. to reduce the severity of the disease and reduce the risk of death from complications
In this regard, Lt. Gen. Apichet Suesad, Commander of the 3rd Army Area Command/Commander of Disaster Relief Center of the 3rd Army Area and military doctor, is concerned about military personnel. Under the Army Region 3, including people’s brothers and sisters and children in the area of 17 northern provinces Therefore, people are asked to be careful of such health hazards. Therefore, people from 7 risk groups are invited to receive the flu vaccine at all 10 military hospitals in the northern region, public health facilities near their homes. and private hospitals participating in the National Health Security Scheme which has campaigned for vaccination services From May 1 to August 31, 2022 and has extended the period of vaccination service for the collection of people in 7 risk groups until September 30, 65
News editorial committee, 3rd Army Area
September 16, 2022