Ministry of Health and Human Services Advisory on the Influenza Season

PUBLIC ADVISORY

FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH

AND HUMAN SERVICES

Turks and Caicos – The Ministry of Health and Human Services wishes to remind the public to be vigilant during this influenza season. Seasonal flu outbreaks can happen as early as September, however, most of the flu activity often peaks between December and February.  This is also the most favourable season for other respiratory infectious diseases including COVID19.

Worldwide, respiratory illnesses such as flu and COVID19 result in an estimated 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and about 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory deaths, particularly among high-risk groups including the very young, the elderly, pregnant women, health workers and those with serious medical conditions. Influenza (flu) and COVID19 are caused by contagious viruses resulting in respiratory illnesses with the following signs and symptoms:

• Fever
• Cough
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle and joint pain
• Headache
• Loss of taste
• Loss of smell

The Ministry of Health and Human Services is committed to keeping the Turks and Caicos Islands population healthy, and persons are advised to visit the Primary Health Care clinics within their respective communities to receive the influenza and the COVID19 vaccine which are offered free of charge.

The COVID19 vaccine is bivalent which offers protection from the original strain of the SARS-CoV2 and the Omicron variant. It also triggers a response to newer subvariants of the omicron variant.  The bivalent vaccine is available for those over the age of 18 years as a booster. Those aged 16 and 17 years can receive the Pfizer vaccine as the booster.  Boosters are needed to boost immunity if persons have received the vaccine more than 3 months previously as immunity is known to wane with time.

In addition to having the vaccines, the Ministry of Health and Human Services would like to recommend the following health tips which can help to prevent the spread of the infection:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
• Put your used tissue in the waste basket.
• If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into the upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or long enough to sing the birthday song twice.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth (germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth).
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too, particularly those who are in the vulnerable group.
• If you or your child is sick with the flu or flu-like symptoms, stay home from work, school and daycare.  You will help prevent spreading your illness to others.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school, especially when someone is ill.
• Get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, eat nutritious foods, manage your stress and be physically active.
• Everyday preventive actions can help slow the spread of germs that can cause many different illnesses and may offer some protection against the flu.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. Get your Flu shot today!!!

For more information, contact your health care provider or the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit on 338-2772 or 338-4942.  For information on the vaccine contact the Primary Health Care Department on 338-5469. Please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.