www.thevillagenews.co.za
6 May 2020
What about the flu vaccine? Writer Lia Labuschagne
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very winter, influenza strikes. The influenza vaccinations differ from year to year to target the specific virus. This year, with COVID-19 dominating the headlines, the demand for influenza vaccination injections rose dramatically. This has been one of the reasons for shortages in the country. Despite the fact that large pharmacy chains had ordered large numbers of doses, they did not receive enough. By the time the lockdown was implemented, most local pharmacies had also run out – and so had the rooms of general practitioners. The result is that people who normally get vaccinated annually have suddenly found they cannot be inoculated.
Unfortunately, no additional doses will be made and imported this year. Dr Marais explains: “Flu vaccines take approximately six months to manufacture. For the 2020 flu season, Sanofi has to confirm orders with both public and private sectors in the second half of 2019 in order to supply in 2020. We have been able to service the orders received in 2019. When the demand for flu vaccines increased sharply in February/March, the production cycle for this year’s flu vaccine was already completed.” He adds that the production facilities are now manufacturing at capacity to supply the northern hemisphere with flu vaccines in time for their next flu season later this year. “Even if we were able to start manufacturing more, the long manufacturing timelines would mean the doses would only be available towards the end of the flu season or even afterwards.”
The Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, commented already late in March that “South Africa has received a very limited stock of flu vaccines, which are pre-ordered a year in advance. At the time the country (both public and private sectors) placed its orders, we had not anticipated this COVID-19 pandemic. This means that as it stands, our flu vaccines are understocked.”
So how to protect myself and my family?
He added that government had engaged with the pharmaceutical industry, and “it became clear that the distribution of this vaccine has to be rationalised and prioritised. We have therefore taken a decision that health workers in the country will be given priority in receiving the flu vaccine. This is precipitated by the fact that the country cannot afford to have them sick, especially as the flu season approaches.”
This is especially true for high-risk groups such as pregnant women and the elderly,” says Dr Marais.
Why the shortage? Both Dr Lieze Morkel, a well-known local GP and Ms Karlien Venter, owner of Albertyn Pharmacy, have confirmed that they received less than the number of doses they had ordered and have no more to vaccinate individuals. They have tried everything, but find themselves unable to supply influenza vaccines to the people on their long waiting lists as “there simply are no more units to be found”. Asked to explain why there is such a shortage and why more doses could not be imported, Dr Thinus Marais, who is the local Medical Head: Africa & IFPM MCO of Sanofi Pasteur, the French company that manufactures and distributes the vaccines, says: “The number of vaccines supplied to the South African public and private sectors was in line with the demand and supply from previous years. Historically, South Africa utilises approximately 2 million doses of flu vaccines annually.”
“It is important to note that getting the flu vaccine does not protect you against COVID-19 infection. However, it does protect you from the risk of co-infection – that is, contracting COVID-19 and influenza during the winter months which could result in severe illness.
While it seems to be too late for this year, people should remember to put their names on the list for flu shots in time, especially for future influenza epidemics. But more importantly, how can we protect ourselves and our families against influenza this winter? The answer is that the measures now in place to prevent us from contracting and spreading COVID-19 are very similar to those that will protect us from influenza. Regular hand washing, cough hygiene and isolating ourselves if we are symptomatic, as recommended for many years by leading authorities such as the WHO, CDC and locally our own NICD, are effective in preventing not only COVID-19 but also other respiratory illnesses such as influenza. “It is therefore crucial that we adhere to these recommendations to curb the spread of these viruses during this winter season,” says Dr Marais. Furthermore, there is some uncertainty about the seriousness of this year’s influenza virus. “As the northern hemisphere is coming towards the end of its flu season, we usually look to its surveillance data to get clues on what the southern hemisphere’s season may look like. But the current COVID-19 pandemic has made it very difficult to draw any conclusions at the moment on the type of flu season South Africa is heading into.”
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Festivalgoers can look forward to a ‘reimagined’ FynArts Writer Hedda Mittner Since announcing the cancellation of FynArts 2020 in its usual form on 27 March, Festival Director Mary Faure and the FynArts committee have continued to work tirelessly behind the scenes with performers, artists and other partners to develop creative ways of conceptualising this popular festival within the constraints imposed by the COVID-19 lockdown. “We’ll be launching the programme for Hermanus FynArts Select 2020 as soon as possible – a programme of selected virtual events, both recorded and livestreamed, which will be offered during the festival dates of 5 – 16 June. As soon as possible after that, we’re also looking at presenting a few stimulating and uplifting FynArts Select weekends at a later stage. Many of the events that are not possible to bring to the festival this year, for logistical and other reasons, will be included in the 2021 programme.” The other good news, says Mary, is that all the planned exhibitions will go ahead and that the artists are hard at work during the lockdown. If necessary, this will be in a limited and virtual format during the festival dates, with the actual exhibitions taking place during FynArts Select weekends as soon as the country has moved down to Level 1 of the lockdown. “In the meantime we will keep in touch and bring you news of the artists, performers and presenters on this year’s excellent programme.” While more information about the dates and content of these events will follow once the future is a little clearer, Mary is also delighted to announce that the 2020 Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Award and exhibition will go ahead this year when South Africa has reached Level 1 of the lockdown. “This decision has been made possible by the support and kindness of our loyal and generous sponsors who have once again graciously offered their private cellar as the exhibition venue for this year,” says Mary. “We are deeply grateful.” The theme for the 2020 competition, Biomimicry, is both topical and relevant as it encourages artists to think about what we can learn – or maybe should have learnt –
from nature to solve human challenges. This timeous topic, with a focus on sustainability, resilience and regeneration, was chosen by Peter Finlayson. “Throughout history artists have interrogated national and global events and provided comment, insight and interpretation through their art,” says Mary. “Biomimicry is proving to be the ideal theme as we all work our way through, and try to make sense of, this global pandemic.” In previous years, the exhibition of the finalists’ tondo artworks has always taken place in the working wine cellar at Bouchard Finlayson and has remained open until the end of September, when the barrels are filled with the new season’s wine. “The timing for the exhibition could no longer be guaranteed due to the logistical implications of social distancing and uncertainty around how long this restriction would remain in place. It would therefore be premature for us to set a date for both the submission of entries and judging, but we will keep everyone updated as South Africa moves down through Levels 4 to 1,” says Mary. “In the very unlikely event that Level 1 is not reached this year the theme, Biomimicry, will remain for 2021.” Mary expresses her deepest gratitude to the loyal support of all the FynArts sponsors who have made FynArts possible over the past seven years, and especially the Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Award and Strauss & Co Series of Talks. Pioneer Freight is the new sponsor for Sculpture on the Cliffs. “We particularly wish to thank Pioneer Freight, who, in their first year of partnering with us, will continue as the headline sponsor of this major exhibition despite this very uncertain time,” says Mary. “Last but not least I’d like to thank and acknowledge our excellent artists, musicians, speakers and presenters who, even at this time of great hardship for so many, have agreed to move onward and upward together with FynArts. We look forward to welcoming festivalgoers to the FynArts Select 2020 line-up of exhibitions and virtual events.”
