A Call for Adopting High-Dose Influenza Vaccines for Adults Aged 65 and Above in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries.

Autor: Al Awaidy ST; Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia Influenza Stakeholder Network (MENA-ISN), P.O.Box 393 PC 100, Muscat, Oman. salah.awaidy@gmail.com., Koul PA; Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia Influenza Stakeholder Network (MENA-ISN), P.O.Box 393 PC 100, Muscat, Oman.; Internal and Pulmonary Medicine Department, Sheri Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, India., Khamis F; Adult Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Royal Hospital, MOH, Muscat, Oman., Al Slil F; Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia Influenza Stakeholder Network (MENA-ISN), P.O.Box 393 PC 100, Muscat, Oman.; Directorate of the National Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia., Jroundi I; Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia Influenza Stakeholder Network (MENA-ISN), P.O.Box 393 PC 100, Muscat, Oman.; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco., Al Olama F; Child Health section, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE., Elawad KH; Health Protection, Primary Health Care Center, MOPH, Doha, Qatar., Abuhasan MYH; Department of National immunization Program, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia., Al Oraimi F; Health Affairs, Muscat MOH, Oman., Tanriover MD; Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia Influenza Stakeholder Network (MENA-ISN), P.O.Box 393 PC 100, Muscat, Oman.; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey., Zaraket H; Middle East, Africa, and Eurasia Influenza Stakeholder Network (MENA-ISN), P.O.Box 393 PC 100, Muscat, Oman.; Department of Experimental Pathology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of epidemiology and global health [J Epidemiol Glob Health] 2024 Sep; Vol. 14 (3), pp. 524-528. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 10.
DOI: 10.1007/s44197-024-00292-8
Abstrakt: Seasonal influenza poses significant health and economic challenges globally each year, particularly impacting the elderly population (aged ≥ 65 years) with increased rates of hospitalization, and mortality. The population of older adults is steadily increasing in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and is likely to increase even further. In addition, there is a high burden of chronic comorbidities in these countries like diabetes and obesity, which increases the likelihood of severe consequences of influenza infection. The GCC countries also host mass gathering events like Hajj, Umrah pilgrimage, Arba'een (nearby Iraq) pilgrimage, and international sports and business events, which further intensify the risk of outbreaks like influenza. These events facilitate the mixing of visitors from various countries. Thus, influenza activity in this North Hemisphere (NH) geography is usually present even before the availability of NH seasonal influenza vaccine. This is especially problematic for the elderly, whose protection from the previous year's immunization would have waned. Higher dosages of antigens or adjuvants have been used to improve immunogenicity in older people with superior vaccine effectiveness. Therefore, there is a compelling argument in favor of the implementation of high-dose seasonal influenza vaccines in the GCC countries to improve the protection of individuals aged 65 years and older against influenza infection and associated severe complications.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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