These groups should be vaccinated against influenza and Covid19

Timely vaccination against the seasonal flu, as well as the SARS-CoV2 virus, is recommended during the Autumn and Winter months. The Ministry of Health provides free seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines. For preventive and Public Health reasons, in collaboration with the National Vaccination Committee, it is recommended that influenza vaccination be given to vulnerable and high-risk population groups.

The following groups are at higher risk for serious illness and complications:

1. Adults aged 60 and over

2. Children > 6 months – 15 years and other adults presenting one or more of the following aggravating factors or chronic diseases:

– People with asthma or other chronic lung diseases

– People with heart disease with severe hemodynamic disorders

– People in Immunosuppression (hereditary or acquired due to disease or

immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory therapy)

– People who have undergone an organ transplant

– People with sickle cell disease (and other serious hemoglobinopathies)

– People with diabetes or other chronic metabolic disease

– People with Morbid Obesity (metabolic syndrome) with a Body Mass index

(BMI)>40 kg/m2

– People with chronic kidney disease and liver disease

– People with Neuromuscular or Neurological diseases

3. Pregnant women of any gestational age, lactating women, lactating women

4. Children and adults taking long-term aspirin (eg, Kawasaki disease, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.), for possible risk of developing Reye’s syndrome after influenza

For preventive and Public Health reasons, the following groups of the population must be vaccinated:

1. People in close contact with children <6 months of age or caring for people with underlying disease, who are at increased risk of complications from influenza

2. Children > 6 months – 15 years

3. Closed populations (staff and internal students of schools, military and police academies, inmates and staff of institutions, recruits in the armed forces, etc.). Recruits at the enlistment centers and especially those enlisting during the winter months

4. Workers in healthcare facilities (medical and nursing staff and other workers)

5. Professionals, such as veterinarians, poultry farmers, pig farmers and general people who come into systematic contact with poultry.

Regarding the vaccination against the Covid-19 disease, it is recommended that the following groups of the population be vaccinated:

1. People over 60 years old

2. People of all ages who live or work in nursing homes and closed structures

3. Health professionals regardless of age

4. People with Diabetes Mellitus

5. People with severe Obesity: BMI ≥40 or ≥35 with metabolic syndrome

6. People with severe chronic heart and vascular disease

7. People with chronic severe kidney disease

8. People with severe chronic liver disease

9. People with severe chronic neurological disease

10. People with hemoglobinopathies

11. You were pregnant

12. Immunodeficient and immunosuppressed patients regardless of age such as:

– People on active treatment for solid tumors and haematological malignancies

– People with a history of solid organ transplantation who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy

– People with a history of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy

– People with hereditary immunodeficiency,

– People with HIV Infection/AIDS,

– People on immunosuppressive therapy including biological agents,

– People with renal failure undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis,

– People who received or are receiving a total dose of >10 mg prednisone/day (=8 mg methylprednisolone) for one (1) month in the last six months,

The vaccination of beneficiaries of the National Health Insurance Scheme, who belong to the high-risk groups, can be handled by the Personal Physician after arranging a relevant appointment. Vaccination of those not entitled to the NHS, but who belong to the high-risk groups, will be done free of charge at Adult Vaccination Centers of the Ministry of Health. In case a beneficiary wishes to be vaccinated on the same day with both vaccines (Covid-19 and seasonal flu), then he will be able to arrange an appointment at the Vaccination Centers of the Ministry of Health.