Production and logistics problems have delayed influenza vaccine deliveries across Europe, including Latvia. Līga Kozlovska, a family doctor and board member of the Latvian Rural Family Doctors Association, told TV24’s Uz līnijas programme that family practices currently have limited vaccine supplies, while the next major nationwide delivery is expected after the 13th of November.
Latvia has ordered a total of 150,000 influenza vaccine doses for this season, intended for three groups: children, adults with chronic illnesses and seniors aged over 60.
However, only approximately 50% of the required quantity has been delivered so far.
The shortage has resulted in waiting lists at family doctors’ practices.
Kozlovska explained that her own practice had also received only part of the vaccines requested. “A month ago, I ordered 300 vaccines for seniors aged 60 and over. I received 100 only very recently, and I am waiting for the next delivery,” Kozlovska said.
She acknowledged that
patients are frustrated but are actively joining waiting lists to receive their vaccinations as soon as supplies become available.
According to current expectations, the situation across Latvia could improve after the 13th of November, when the next round of vaccine deliveries is scheduled.
Data from the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) on influenza and other acute respiratory infections show that flu activity in Latvia is gradually increasing but remains below the epidemic threshold.
During week 44 of the year, influenza was clinically diagnosed at an average rate of 15.0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, compared with 9.2 cases in the previous week.
The increase was mainly observed among children aged 5 to 14, with incidence reaching 57.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Since the beginning of the monitoring season, influenza cases have been recorded in five of the ten monitored areas: Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jūrmala, Riga and Ventspils.
The incidence of other acute respiratory infections remained at the previous week’s level, at 992.3 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The highest incidence was recorded among children, particularly those under four years of age.
Meanwhile, pneumonia incidence increased slightly, from 8.0 to 11.0 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The incidence rates recorded at outpatient monitoring facilities do not exceed the average levels observed during the corresponding period over the previous five seasons.
Laboratory surveillance data show that the proportion of influenza-positive samples increased to 4.6% in week 44, compared with 2.5% in the previous week.
Since the beginning of the monitoring season, only influenza A viruses have been confirmed in laboratory testing.
In all samples where the virus subtype was identified, A(H1)pdm was detected.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was not detected in any samples tested during the past week, compared with a positivity rate of 0.5% in the previous week.
The proportion of samples testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 increased to 3.4% in week 44, compared with 0.5% in the previous week.
The proportion of patients hospitalised with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) among all hospital admissions at monitoring hospitals decreased from 3.8% to 2.5%.
A total of 110 SARI patients were hospitalised at monitoring hospitals, compared with 165 patients in the previous week.
The first death of a patient with a confirmed influenza infection has also been recorded during the current influenza monitoring season.