Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - According to the national health ministry anti-flu vaccination could save the lives of 300,000 Italian children at risk.
Unfortunately only 10 per cent will be vaccinated and the Italian Society of Allergists and Immunologists has raised the alarm. They are determined to fight the virus with a virus beating on its own ground.
The 300,000 babies and children at risk include those with chronic respiratory, heart, intestinal, urinary and blood diseases such as serious persistent asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital and acquired heart-pathologies, mellitus diabetes, renal insufficiency, thalassemy, genetic immunity deficiency caused by therapy or HIV, intestinal malabsorption, illnesses pending surgery, long term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid. Babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy need vaccinating, or who weigh under 2,500 grams at birth, family members of patients with chronic illnesses, staff at infant care centres, primary and secondary school teachers
Anti-flu vaccine is effective and safe and all the more necessary in view of the threat of avian flu. It does not protect against bird flu but the available anti-flu vaccine prevents the exchange of genetic material between avian flu virus and the human influenza virus and therefore also the development of a ‘super virus’ capable of causing a serious pandemic. (AP) (20/10/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:26; Parole:287)
