Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Onishchenko called on older Russians to get vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcus

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Onishchenko called on older Russians to get vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal infection.

Onishchenko noted that new Russian vaccines against pneumococcus, after updating and availability, can be introduced into the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations.

MOSCOW, September 23 - RIA Novosti. Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy President of the Russian Academy of Education Gennady Onishchenko called on older Russians to get vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal infection to preserve their health.

“We recommend giving the vaccine against pneumococcal infection to the older age group. A flu vaccination campaign is currently underway, and at the same time it is recommended to vaccinate (elderly citizens - ed.) against pneumococcus,” Onishchenko told RIA Novosti.

He added that elderly people often have weakened lungs and any previous infection can cause complications in the form of pneumonia.

“The development of such drugs is a big and serious area. When new Russian vaccines against pneumococcus are updated and available, they will need to be included in the National Calendar (of preventive vaccinations - ed.),” he concluded.