Amid an unusually early and harsh flu season and an ongoing measles outbreak, hospitals across Israel are reporting overcrowding, and several babies and children are in serious to critical condition.
Hadassah Hospital reported on Sunday that the pediatric departments at Ein Kerem and HaTzofim Hospitals in Jerusalem have been treating children of all ages hospitalized due to the flu.
The conditions of most children are stable, but two toddlers, an 18-month-old and a two-year-old, are in critical condition, and a five-year-old is in serious but stable condition.
“Hadassah teams emphasize to the public that vaccinating children, babies, and those with weakened immune systems in accordance with the Health Ministry’s guidelines is critical in preventing severe morbidity,” the hospital said.
Rambam Medical Center in Haifa announced on Sunday that its medical staff are treating four babies who have been connected to ECMO machines in the pediatric intensive care unit, a number not seen since the peak of the COVID pandemic.
Two babies, ages eight and 13 months, are in serious condition due to flu complications. A third baby was connected to an ECMO last week due to measles complications and is still in serious condition. The fourth baby is being treated for a non‑viral medical issue.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
This is what happens when vaccination rates fall, and was completely predictable. Ayzehu chacham? Ha’ro’eh es ha’nolad.
Why do we not see akol koreh requiring vaccination? Has u’shmarten et naf’shosaichem been suspended?
babies do not choose to be unvaccinated. their parents should be held accountable for deliberately risking their own children’s lives, and for spreading the disease to other people’s children.
I took my flu shot לשם מצות ונשמרתם מאד לנפשותיכם