Do postal parcels transmit Omicron infection, and if a person receives the third dose of the Corona vaccine, is it possible to get “Covid-19” infection, then is the booster dose of the “Covid-19” vaccine effective, and what is the other epidemic that threatens Europe in addition to Corona?
The answers are in this comprehensive report…
If a person receives the booster dose (the third dose of two-dose vaccines such as Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca) of the Corona vaccine, is it possible for him to contract “Covid-19” infection?
Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar says that "Covid-19" vaccines reduce the risk of infection with "Covid-19", but do not completely prevent infection with this infection.
And she adds - in a post on the Foundation's Facebook page - that receiving the "Covid-19" vaccine significantly reduces the chances of severe infection, severe illness and death.
For people who have received the full vaccination, they are likely to have mild symptoms if they become infected.
Is the booster dose of the “Covid-19” vaccine effective?
Hamad Medical Corporation asserts that the answer is yes, as clinical evidence shows that a booster dose provides 75% protection against mild to moderate infection and 90% protection against severe infection and death.
Hamad Medical Corporation adds that in addition, almost all patients admitted to intensive care units are unvaccinated individuals or individuals who received the second dose of the vaccine more than 6 months ago and did not receive the booster dose.
Do postal parcels transmit omicron infection?
The Chinese Postal Service ordered its workers to sterilize international postal parcels and urged citizens to reduce purchase orders from abroad, after the authorities claimed that the mail may be the source of the outbreak of Corona virus infections in China recently, according to Agence France-Presse.
China, which was the first country where the virus appeared in late 2019, is following a strict policy aimed at recording zero infections despite ending the closure in the rest of the world.
But the country is now suffering from small outbreaks, even in the capital, Beijing, which is preparing to host the Winter Olympics.
In recent days, Chinese officials have suggested that some people may have contracted the virus after touching postal parcels from abroad.
China Post issued a statement on Monday ordering workers to sterilize international parcels "as soon as possible" and also asking employees who handle foreign letters and parcels to receive booster doses of vaccine.
It also asked citizens to reduce purchases from "countries and regions with high epidemic risk abroad."
China's state-run CCTV channel called on citizens in a social media post late on Monday to "reduce buying goods from abroad or receiving mail from abroad."
It also urged them to "make sure to protect themselves during face-to-face deliveries, use masks and gloves, and try to open the parcel in an open space," according to Reuters.
Health officials said the person diagnosed with the Omicron opened a parcel from Canada via the United States and Hong Kong, and that transmission through the parcel "cannot be ruled out".
The Corona virus spreads through the mouth or nose of an infected person through the droplets that they release when they cough, sneez, talk or breathe.
The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considered that the risk of infection through contaminated surfaces is low, and becomes less likely over time.
The US Centers for Disease Control said that the effects of the virus on most surfaces disappear by 99% within 3 days, but China is not ready to take any risks, especially before the Winter Olympics, which it hosts next month.
China is using strict local closures, mass testing, and tracking applications for infected people to trap infections as soon as infections appear.
The recent infections appeared in regions receiving large quantities of international goods, including the eastern port city of Tianjin and the southern industrial region of Guangdong.
What other epidemic threatens Europe?
The answer is influenza, as a Reuters report says that influenza returned to Europe at a faster rate than expected this winter after almost disappearing last year, which raised fears of a long-term “double epidemic” with the Corona virus.
The closure measures, the placement of masks, and social distancing, which became the norm in Europe during the “Covid-19” outbreak, temporarily eliminated the influenza virus that kills nearly 650,000 people globally annually, according to European Union data.
But the situation has now changed, as some countries have begun to adopt less stringent measures to combat the Corona virus, thanks to the spread of vaccines.
Data from the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization showed that since mid-December, the number of influenza cases in intensive care units rose gradually, reaching 43 cases in the last week of the year.
This number of infections is much lower than pre-pandemic levels, as the number of influenza cases in intensive care units exceeded 400 cases in the same period in 2018, for example.
But the data shows a significant increase in the number of cases compared to last year, when there was one case of influenza in the intensive care unit in the whole month of December.
How do we protect ourselves from influenza?
Seasonal influenza epidemics usually spread in the late fall and during the winter, and can therefore be anticipated and prepared for, according to the World Health Organization.
In the tropics, the influenza virus can circulate throughout the year, causing irregular outbreaks, but prevention remains an important factor.
The most common symptoms of influenza include: fever, dry cough, headache, muscle and joint aches, sore throat, and runny nose.
Here are tips to help protect yourself and those around you from influenza, according to the World Health Organization:
Fortify yourself
The annual flu vaccination is the most effective way to protect yourself from the flu and its dangerous complications.
Vaccination is especially important for pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
It is also essential for children aged 6 months to 5 years, the elderly, those with chronic conditions, and health care workers.
The influenza vaccine cannot give you the flu. As for having some aches or fever after vaccination, it is a completely normal and normal reaction and it generally lasts a day or two.
Wash your hands regularly
Hand hygiene protects against most infections, including the flu.
Keeping hands clean is an easy way to protect your health and the health of your family.
Wash your hands regularly with soap and running water and dry them well with a disposable towel.
You can also use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
The germs are most likely transmitted to the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth.
While you can't control everything you inhale, you can reduce the risk of infection by keeping your hands away from your face.
If you must touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, use a clean tissue or wash your hands first.
Avoid near sick people
Influenza is contagious and spreads easily in crowded places, such as public transportation, schools, nursing homes, and in social settings.
When an infected person coughs or sneezes, droplets saturated with the virus can spread up to one meter, infecting anyone who inhales it.
If you are sick.. stay at home
If you have the flu, being in close proximity to others puts them at risk of infection.
This is especially true for people with chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and HIV.
So isolating yourself quickly from others can prevent the spread of the flu and save lives.