Professor of Pulmonology Theodoros Vasilakopoulos said that 120 Greeks are still dying every week from COVID-19 when speaking on the main news bulletin of ERT.
"The flu problem is not huge and with the vaccine it will be easily solved. The problem is that even today we lose 120 Greeks every week to the corona virus and unfortunately we have forgotten about it," the professor said.
"People, our fellow citizens do not come to the vaccination centres to get the updated booster dose," added Theodoros Vasilakopoulos.
Asked why the flu came earlier this year, he noted: "The flu has come early and that's because in the previous two years, due to both mask use and extended lockdowns and social distancing measures, we've had virtually no flu."
As for who should get the flu shot, Vasilakopoulos said, among other things: "I wish we could all do it. I wish we all did. The flu would be greatly reduced, but especially those who have underlying diseases and are elderly, must necessarily get the flu vaccine."
Regarding whether there is a fear of a double hit of coronavirus and flu, he noted, among other things: "This is extremely rare, for co-infection to occur, i.e. simultaneous infection of coronavirus and flu."
"What can happen is that we have a bigger wave of coronavirus again and at the same time a peak of the flu wave and this puts pressure on the health system.
"Let's not get carried away right now by the flu problem," the professor stressed, adding: "The problem of influenza is not huge and with the vaccine it will be easily solved."
"The problem is that even today we lose 120 Greeks every week to the corona virus and unfortunately we have forgotten about it. People, our fellow citizens, do not come to the germinal centers to get the updated booster dose."
Regarding the fear of a possible burden on the health system and hospitals, he underlined: "I hope that we will have the common sense as a people, we will be careful, we will be vaccinated and the health system will not be put under pressure again. It is in our hand".
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