It is flu season, which is natural at this time of year, but the reality is different this year following the COVID-19 pandemic that swept the entire world, leaving serious complications, perhaps the most significant being reduced immunity, especially among children, making them easy targets for the flu virus or even the common cold. There is no doubt that the flu is currently widespread in Lebanon as well as globally, with pediatric clinics witnessing a significant surge in cases, particularly among young children. But does this mean that schools should close as parents and students have recently raised their voices in demand? MTV inquired with the Ministry of Education about its stance and the approach it will adopt to confront this virus, and whether closing schools is indeed an option.
The response was different, based on health and medical consultations. Dani Al-Hamid, the health advisor to the Minister of Education and a pediatrician, emphasized the seriousness of the call to closure, stating that children have suffered from reduced immunity during the closures and health emergencies amidst COVID-19 and social distancing, having not been exposed to viruses during that time. Consequently, their immune systems have not learned to fight these viruses when the body is eventually exposed to them. Therefore, Al-Hamid confirmed to MTV that there will never be a return to school closures or wearing masks; rather, necessary precautions and vaccinations should be taken, along with some recommendations, particularly good nutrition to strengthen immunity, adequate sleep, and exercising.
While Al-Hamid pointed to high hospital admission rates due to seasonal flu, he stressed that the solution does not lie in closures but in rebuilding the immune system for everyone, especially children. He urged parents to seek medical advice quickly when symptoms appear for early detection and treatment. Al-Hamid also reassured that there is no need for excessive fear or concern leading to school closures and emphasized that we will not revert to the past two years. He noted that this is the approach adopted in various countries worldwide to restore the immune system after the significant damage left by COVID-19.
