The Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, continues to encourage the public to get the Influenza vaccine. During a visit to the North West Regional Health Authority’s (NWRHA) Influenza Vaccination Outreach yesterday November 18th.

The outreach programme was held at the Brian Lara Promenade, Port of Spain and the minister revealed that to date 7,149 persons with chronic diseases have so far received the Influenza vaccine.

He also confirmed that a total of 15,579 persons have been vaccinated with the Influenza vaccine so far and that there have been five (5) deaths as a result of the virus.

According to a statement from the MoH:

“The Outreach activity forms part of the Ministry of Health’s goal to make Influenza vaccination easily accessible and available to members of the public through various Regional Health Authority-led vaccination programmes.”

Persons in this high-risk group include:

• Children aged 6 months to 5 years
  Adults 60 years of age and over
  Pregnant women
  Persons living with chronic illnesses (e.g. Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart Disease)
  Persons with compromised immune systems (e.g. persons with Lupus, Cancer patients)
  Persons with chronic respiratory illnesses (e.g. Asthma, Chronic Obstructive
  Pulmonary Disease)
  Healthcare workers