Ml Muhammad Bham | mbham@radioislam.co.za
24 April 2023 | 17:00 CAT
2 min read |

Photo Credit: Healthline

Over 11 000 South Africans die of flu yearly, with 47 000 getting seriously ill and almost 50% needing hospitalising.

More concerning is that this year, there is fear that the flu will be more severe than in the past two years.

Speaking to Radio Islam, Lizeth Kruger, Dis-Chem Baby City’s national clinic executive, said stats about the flu are usually from Europe, where there has been an increase. She blames the spike on the fact that people are hesitant to get the flu vaccine firstly and secondly, COVID-19, where people stayed indoors and were more focused on handwashing and hygiene.

This year will be different due to weakened immunity among people, and predictions are that the flu will be slightly worse than we have seen in the past five years.

A controversial issue among many South Africans and the rest of the world is whether the flu vaccine is the way to go.

This week being World Immunisation Week, Dis-Chem Baby City’s national clinic is creating awareness and explaining why people need vaccinations for the flu and all the essential vaccines. The flu vaccine is the first vaccine they will give the community more information about.

The flu vaccine has to be taken annually between February and March in South Africa to ensure a person is protected for the flu season starting around mid-March. Even if a person is already ill, it is recommended that they still take a vaccine.

The flu vaccine does differ slightly every year, and depending on how the flu is displayed yearly, a person needs to take the flu vaccine annually.

The flu vaccine is given at full strength as the flu is causing severe illness and fatalities at this stage.

Kruger says everybody should get the flu vaccine, but definitely for those at high risk, like elders, those with chronic conditions like hypertension diabetes, and patients with compromised immune systems, pregnant women and children and babies from 6 months upward.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim hosted by Ml Habib Bobat here