Flu vaccine delays leave Latvian patients and medical staff waiting

Flu cases are rising in Latvia, but delayed vaccine deliveries are leaving some residents and healthcare workers unable to get vaccinated, LSM reported, citing Zemgale Regional Television.

The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control recorded an average of 9.2 flu cases per 100,000 people last week, up from eight the week before. Flu can cause serious complications and threaten life, while vaccination is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of severe illness.

At a clinic in Jelgava, vaccination has begun for specific patient groups. The clinic received 150 doses this year, compared with more than 550 last year, its chief physician, Dace Kārkliņa, said.

The clinic and its branch include 14 family doctor practices serving more than 21,000 patients. Doctors said patients regularly ask about vaccination, but many cannot yet be offered an appointment. Kārkliņa said she had not seen delays like this before and that the problem was affecting the whole country. Once the vaccines arrive, she expects staff to face a doubled workload.

Staff at Jelgava City Hospital are also waiting for vaccines. Hospital board member Kintija Barloti said workers who come into contact with patients or provide patient care would be vaccinated once the doses arrived. Their regular contact with people who are ill puts them at greater risk of infection.