Government halves cost of flu vaccine

AMMAN — The cost of the flu vaccine has been cut in half, decreasing from an average of JD11 to JD5.5, Health Minister Saad Jaber announced on Thursday. 

“This is a seasonal flu just like any other flu, and people should not be afraid of it. It was new in 2009, but now it should be dealt with normally,” Amman-based pulmonologist Ibrahim Al Aqeel told The Jordan Times on Thursday over the phone.

The symptoms of swine flu (H1N1) and the normal flu (influenza) are “almost the same, with a few slight differences”, Al Aqeel said, noting that swine flu can cause high body temperatures that reach up to 40°C, accompanied by trembling and shivering. 

Swine flu symptoms also include severe headaches, and joint and muscle pain, and may even include the symptoms of a common cold, Al Aqeel said, adding that there may be a lot of coughing with phlegm as well.

The Health Ministry has announced six deaths from swine flu so far this season, causing public unease and fear. However, Al Aqeel said that death occurs only in “very extreme cases” where the swine flu affects the lungs, which can lead to shortness of breath and lack of oxygen in the blood, possibly affecting the kidneys.

“Only in such a severe case, where the patient suffers high inflammation in the lungs and needs to use an artificial respirator, death might occur,” the pulmonologist explained. 

Precautions against the disease include getting the flu vaccine, which also contains the swine flu virus, during September and October, before the season begins in November.

However, he added, “even if the person misses out on the vaccine before the seasons begins, they can still take it during the flu season. As long as they are healthy and have not been infected, the vaccine will be effective".

Al Aqeel recommended that people steer clear of crowded places whenever possible and avoid close interaction with a person with a flu virus, regardless of its type. Those who already have the virus should use tissues whenever they sneeze and wear face masks, the doctor added.

“People should also drink lots of fluids and wash their hands regularly, as fluids keep the upper mucous membranes moist, making it easy to keep out the virus,” Al Aqeel said, also recommending eating Vitamin C-rich foods. 

As of Wednesday, a total of 199 H1N1 cases were registered nationwide, according to Health Minister Saad Jaber.

H1N1 is a kind of seasonal flu that surfaces annually and is “treated effectively” by Jordanian medical care establishments, Jaber said during a joint press conference held on Wednesday with Minister of State for Media Affairs Amjad Adaileh. 

The minister said that the rate of the disease’s spread is “normal for this time of year”, stressing that treatment is available and that the ministry is in direct contact with the World Health Organisation and other stakeholders to address the issue.