00:00People are set to arrive from various parts of the world for Carnival, including North
00:04America, heightening the probability for the spread of the influenza virus.
00:09As such, the ministry is ramping up vaccination initiatives for influenza A, as is usually
00:14done especially with the more vulnerable in mind, namely children, pregnant women, the
00:20elderly and the immunocompromised, such as those with chronic diseases.
00:25Health Minister Terence Dielsing says there is an uptick of viruses in circulation, highlighting
00:30five, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID, HMPV, influenza A or H1N1 and influenza B
00:39or H3N2.
00:40We are trying to do two things, one, prevent deaths.
00:47I will tell you for calendar year 2024, we have had eight deaths due to influenza, eight.
00:56We want to prevent deaths.
00:58We want to prevent overcrowding at our accident and emergency departments and in our hospitals.
01:06In terms of the response to the vaccination initiatives, Dielsing provides some statistics.
01:12For this flu season, we have vaccinated roughly 18,864 persons, but we need to vaccinate more.
01:21We need to vaccinate a lot more.
01:24We need to get up to about 50,000, which is where we reached last year.
01:28Apart from the paddock, the drive is taking place at Gulf City Mall, the Diwali Nagar
01:33and all the Eastern Regional Health Authority facilities for a two-week period.
01:38Dielsing outlines the rapid onset of influenza A, which he says can lead to deaths as in
01:44as little as 24 to 48 hours, further distinguishing between that and the common cold as he clears
01:50up a misconception.
01:52The vaccine does not protect you against the common cold, which does not cause death, which
01:59does not cause you to be hospitalized.
02:03What we are vaccinating against is influenza E, which has the potential to cause death.
02:11The symptoms include body pains and severe fatigue.
02:15Roland Henry and his wife, Monica Henry, are in their 80s.
02:19They came out to be vaccinated.
02:21What was the process like?
02:23It was comfortable.
02:25There was no hassle at all.
02:28And in the past, it's the same way.
02:30Every year we have it done.
02:32But it's not convenient here, especially on a Sunday.
02:36The timing was right for Richard Likwai.
02:39Very smooth.
02:40Very smooth.
02:41A quick shot.
02:42In and out.
02:43In five minutes.
02:44Do you usually take the influenza vaccine?
02:47No, I don't.
02:48I don't.
02:49Is this your first time?
02:50My first time.
02:52It was a two-in-one deal for Simon Delphi, as the NWRHA has combined vaccination with
02:58prostate-specific antigen or PSA testing, being done in separate suites.
03:03He describes the process.
03:05Seamless.
03:06No problems.
03:07It was smooth.
03:08From transition from the prostate to the prostate, it was pretty cool.
03:11So it was good for me.
03:12So it was a blood test, you did, for the PSA?
03:15Yes, a simple blood test into your fingers.
03:17Nothing major, but a small, quick test into the prick of the finger.
03:21And that was it.
03:22And that was it.
03:23That was OK.
03:24If you're not there with flu vaccines readily available, why waste it?
03:28All right, guys, so I'm about to get my influenza vaccine.
03:33I usually take it.
03:35I did miss about a year or two, and so I took this chance to, you know, just get the opportunity.
03:42It was a very quick process.
03:44They just took some information, and there, we're all done.
03:48Our cameraman, Shiva Parasram, followed suit.
03:52Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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