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The Ministry of Health General Directorate of Public Health has released a statement about the people in the Covid-19 risk groups who need to be vaccinated for influenza.
"Those who are over 65 years of age are as sensitive to infection diseases as children-babies. When the elderly catch the flu, they may have the disease more severely," it said, adding that the flu may suddenly turn into pneumonia and pose a lethal risk to the elderly.
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Vaccination is the most important method of protection for the elderly, it added. "People over the age of 65 should learn from their family doctor, internal medicine doctor or infection specialist the appropriate vaccines for them and complete their vaccinations. Everyone over the age of 65 should have a flu vaccination once a year, ideally in September-November before winter comes."
In another statement, the ministry listed the risk groups for Covid-19:
* People aged 65 and over and under 2 years old,
* Those who are between 6 months and 18 years of age and need to use aspirin for a long time
* Those who have any metabolic disease including diabetes,
* Those who have chronic respiratory diseases including asthma,
* Those who have chronic kidney disease
* Those who have a chronic cardiovascular system disease
* People with a suppressed immune system (those who have a chronic blood disease, cancer patients, those using immunosuppressive drugs, AIDS patients)
* People living in nursing homes and similar environments
* Those who are overweight
* Pregnant women (AS/VK)