Jamaicans are being advised to get the flu vaccine to reduce severe outcomes from the illness.

Speaking with JIS News, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) in the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Dr Jacquiline Bisasor-McKenzie, noted that the vaccine is available free of cost at health centres islandwide. She said that the ministry is urging everyone, particularly the elderly, children, and individuals with chronic illnesses, to get vaccinated.

"The flu vaccine, each year, is formulated based on what viruses are circulating. It prevents you from getting infected with the most common viruses or, if you do get ill, it's not as severe as it could have been," she pointed out. The CMO also highlighted simple preventive measures that remain crucial in combating the spread of respiratory illnesses.

"We went through COVID and everybody was washing their hands but after that, we kind of fell down. We have to continue to do the basic things - handwashing, staying home when ill, and wearing masks in crowded spaces," she advised. She said that parents play a vital role in preventing the spread of respiratory illnesses by keeping sick children at home.