“The influenza vaccine can reduce visits to the doctor for this ailment by up to 60 percent,” PAHO stressed in a message posted on the social network Twitter.

The main purpose of immunization against seasonal influenza is to prevent severe cases of flu and its complications.

Currently, 39 countries and territories in the Americas offer vaccination against this disease to high-risk groups defined in each country.

Pregnant women, children between six months and five years of age, the elderly, chronically ill patients and health workers should be prioritized, PAHO said.

According to medical literature, it is a contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and in some cases the lungs.

It can cause mild to severe illness and can sometimes lead to death, and the best way to prevent it is to get vaccinated every year.

People with influenza sometimes experience fever with chills, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, and some often have vomiting and diarrhea, although this is more common in children than in adults.

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