Climate change poses a fundamental threat to human health, impacting physical environments and all aspects of natural and human systems, including social and economic conditions, and healthcare system performance.
It acts as a multiplier of threats, undermining decades of health progress and potentially reversing this progress.
With changing climate conditions, more frequent and intense weather and climatic phenomena, including storms, extreme cold, heatwaves, floods, and droughts, are observed.
These weather and climate hazards directly and indirectly affect health, increasing the risk of mortality, non-communicable diseases, the emergence and spread of infectious diseases, and health emergencies.
This includes the current severe seasonal influenza cases observed in hospitals and healthcare centers.
World Health Organization (WHO) research indicates that 3.6 billion people already live in areas highly exposed to climate change.
From 2030 to 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year.
Direct health damage costs are estimated to be between 2 and 4 billion U.S. dollars annually by 2030. Areas lacking robust health infrastructure, mostly in developing countries, will be less capable of coping without assistance for preparedness and response.
Seasonal Influenza
Seasonal influenza (the flu) is an acute respiratory infection caused by influenza viruses.
It is common worldwide, easily spreading among people through coughing or sneezing. Most people recover without treatment, and vaccination is the best prevention method.
The disease can affect all age groups, but certain groups are at higher risk, including pregnant women, children under five, the elderly, individuals with chronic medical conditions (like chronic heart, lung, kidney, metabolic, neurodevelopmental, liver, or blood diseases), and those with immune-suppressing conditions (like HIV, chemotherapy, steroids, or malignancy).
Healthcare workers are at significant risk of influenza virus infection due to increased exposure and interaction with patients, and vaccination can protect both healthcare workers and those around them.
New Season Recommendations
Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aali, spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Health, stated that 80% of patients in intensive care due to seasonal flu since the start of the season had not been vaccinated.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports two main differences for the new 2023-2024 flu season:
Firstly, an update in the composition of the 2023-2024 flu vaccines, with one change compared to the 2022-2023 American flu vaccine.
The A(H1N1)pdm09 virus component of the flu vaccine has been updated for egg-based or cell-based recombinant vaccines.
Secondly, individuals with egg allergies can receive any vaccine (egg-based or not) suitable for their age and health status.
Previously, it was recommended to vaccinate those with severe egg allergies (those with any symptoms other than hives from egg exposure) in medical clinics.
From the 2023-2024 season onwards, no additional safety measures are recommended for flu vaccination in individuals with egg allergies, beyond those recommended for receiving any vaccine, regardless of the severity of previous reactions to eggs.
All vaccines should be administered in settings where allergic reactions can be quickly recognized and treated.
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