Once again, the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS), called on the population at risk to go to health centers and get vaccinated against influenza virus, because even though the vaccination days started at the beginning of the month, several groups have ignored this recommendation.
According to the data from the institution, at the end of the third week of vaccination, diabetic patients, those suffering from heart disease and patients with morbid obesity are the ones who have come least to vaccinate.
Until Monday, only 36% of the diabetic population had been protected, 15% of the cardiac patients and only 22% of the people with morbid obesity got the vaccine.
María Eugenia Villalta, medical manager of the institution, said that there is great concern due to the refusal from these people, because their health condition can be seriously aggravated in case of influenza.
Seasonal influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract, which causes cough, shortness of breath, fever, headache, muscle aches, and general weakness. Most people with influenza get better on their own. However, some of them, due to their health conditions, can suffer various complications and die.
The call is also addressed to parents of children with ages ranging from 6 months old to 5 years old, as vaccination coverage in this group barely reaches 45% when the goal proposed for the end of the third week of vaccination was 60%.