While Israel continues waiting for rain, winter has arrived, bringing the flu with it. Parents and their 5-year-old daughter, residents of Central Israel, are hospitalized in three different hospitals, all with the flu. Some of them are in serious condition.
The girl is admitted to the Children’s Hospital in Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer in Tel Aviv, listed in serious condition. Mom is in Tel Hashomer Hospital and dad is admitted to Yafeh Hospital in Hadera.
It is reported that the girl did not receive a vaccine and had a medical background placing her in the category of those who should have been vaccinated. That said, mom was vaccinated, but too late and she too is hospitalized.
Chief of Infectious Diseases at the Safra Children’s Hospital at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Dr. Gila Barkai explains, “The girl has a neurological background and is being monitored by us. She was brought in by her parents after being diagnosed with the flu. Her condition has worsened and now has a blood infection was well. At present, she is admitted in serious condition. Her parents are healthy people, and they too are hospitalized. The flu may be severe in some cases and therefore, it is important to get vaccinated.”
The nationwide flu vaccination campaign in Israel is underway. It was delayed since there was delay in the vaccinations arriving as the World Health Organization was uncertain what strains were to be contained in this year’s vaccinations.
This season in Israel has already been accompanied with two people in serious condition with the flu. The Health Ministry urges persons in the high-risk category to get vaccinated; including the elderly, children from age 6 months to 1-year, pregnant women and persons with a chronic medical problem(s).
Due to the delay in the arrival of the vaccines, the percentage of Israelis who are vaccinated so far this year stands at 3.5%, while last year at this time, that number was 30%.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Nobody has explained WHY we couldn’t get the vaccine 2 months ago, as is usual. I think we, the public, have a right to know. Having said that, get vaccinated asap – I was overseas when the vaccine was released but the next morning after I returned I was at my Kupah at 8:30 getting the flu shot.
Refuah shleima to this family
People do not know how many (10,000’s) people die every year from the “flu”. Get immunized.
Laughing- no, theres never been 10,000s flu deaths a year. Thats the number of flu like symptoms resulting in death. Like pneumonia is counted in that tally. Each year around 1,200-1,500 die of actual flu. Meaning they tested positive for flu.