Days after the untimely death of Barbie Hsu, there is a surge in demand for flu vaccination in the country. Barbie Hsu died of flu related complications. She was 48. Barbie developed pneumonia after contracting flu while on a trip to Japan last week. She was fondly called as ‘Big S’ by her fans and followers.
“Taiwan had also seen a rise in people getting flu jabs after Hsu’s death. In Taipei, the stock of government-funded flu vaccine dropped from 12,000 doses on Monday noon to 6,200 on Tuesday morning,” the South China Morning Post.
As per Health and welfare minister Chiu Tai-yuan, Taiwan has 160,000 doses of government-funded flu vaccines as of Tuesday and priority will be given to senior citizens or those with chronic health conditions, such as heart and lung disease, as well as diabetes and cancer.
Why flu vaccination is important?
Flu vaccination is an important preventive measure that helps individuals and communities prevent the seasonal influenza virus. Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that can cause mild to severe symptoms, leading to complications such as pneumonia, hospitalization, and even death in vulnerable populations. The flu vaccine is designed to reduce the risk of infection, minimize the severity of symptoms, and lower the chances of spreading the virus to others. This means protecting high-risk groups, including children from six months of age, elderly people, pregnant women, and those suffering from asthma, diabetes, or other chronic diseases such as heart disease. These populations are more likely to experience severe complications from flu, and the vaccine can prevent them from being hospitalized and dying from such conditions. Vaccination also contributes to herd immunity, shielding those who cannot receive the vaccine because of a medical condition or an allergy.
FILE – Taiwanese singer Barbie Hsu smiles as she arrives at the 26th Golden Melody Awards in Taipei, Taiwan, Saturday, June 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Wally Santana, File)
Flu vaccines are updated every year to match the most prevalent strains circulating in a given season to offer better protection. Though the vaccine is not 100% immunizing, its mere administration reduces the risk of contracting the flu by countless numbers and reduces cases of illness, particularly among affected cases, which were otherwise flu-related. Studies have shown that flu vaccination reduced the chances of admission to the intensive care unit and the number of deaths due to influenza.
Some people avoid getting the flu vaccine because of myths and misconceptions. These include the notion that one is likely to contract the flu from the vaccine or suffer from worse side effects. However, the flu vaccines have inactivated or weakened viruses, which cannot cause the flu. The side effects, if present, are minimal and temporary; they may be soreness at the injection site or low-grade fever. Benefits far outweigh risks.
