The scientific committee of the Medical Association of Athens (ISA) emphasized the importance of vaccination and the need for patients with covid-19 or influenza to contact their treating physician for the timely administration of antiviral drugs.

The committee was convened by the president of ISA, G. Patoulis, on the occasion of the peak of the epidemic wave of influenza, coronavirus, RSV and other respiratory infections. The participants expressed their concern about the low vaccination coverage of the population and emphasized the need for vaccination, by the attending physician, for SARS-Cov-2, influenza virus and pneumococcal.

Participants stressed that personal protection measures should be scrupulously followed, especially by vulnerable groups.

Regarding the administration of antiviral drugs, it was emphasized that patients with Covid-19 and influenza should receive them within the first 24 hours, from the onset of symptoms. In fact, it was clarified that the antiviral drugs for Covid-19 are safe and effective, as they contribute, not only to the avoidance of immediate complications, but also of long covid.

For vaccination, participants reported that according to recent study evidence, vaccination for Sars-Cov-2 protects, not only from immediate complications, but also from post-covid and long-term complications of the disease.

With reference to the flu, it is reminded that people over 65 years of age should be vaccinated with the enhanced vaccine that was released this year and is administered with a doctor’s prescription. As for RSV, it was pointed out the need for the elderly to be particularly careful, for which there is no specific treatment.

It was also emphasized that antibiotics, which are ineffective against viruses, should not be misused.

“We are going through a period of outbreak of the coronavirus, influenza and other respiratory viruses that can endanger the health, especially of vulnerable groups of the population. It is very important, on the one hand, to scrupulously observe precautionary measures, and on the other hand, to take advantage of the weapons available to science, vaccines and antiviral drugs. For this reason, the citizen must contact his treating doctor in a timely manner, both for his treatment and for his vaccination, emphasized the president of ISA, Giorgos Patoulis.