Last year, 197 people over the age of 65 died of Covid, compared to almost five times fewer - 41 - who died of influenza.
Operational data show that 3,500 seniors have received the seasonal vaccine against Covid, while more than 25,000 have received the seasonal flu vaccine.
Epidemiologist Jurijs Perevoščikovs said:
"Seven times more often! Although in my opinion the health risks, severity, and complications for seniors and patients at risk of chronic diseases are quite similar. It would be good to see similar figures."
People interviewed by Latvian Television explain this difference both by the fact that Covid still seems to be a relatively new and less known infection for many, and by the fact that the pandemic is over and with it the fear.
"Everything is known about influenza, but there are a lot of unknowns about Covid. So. I don't know," says Olga, a senior citizen.
Artūrs, on the other hand, says that he doesn't get vaccinated against flu at all: "Never! I eat garlic. I did get Covid vaccinations. All three, because I travel abroad."
Skaidrīte, a retired teacher, has never had a flu vaccination, but she has had all the Covid vaccinations.
Iveta is not vaccinated against seasonal diseases: "I eat honey. With tea..."
"I don't want to vaccinate [my child] against Covid, especially asthmatic. He is a very weak child. Unfortunately, we did not get the flu vaccine," says Larissa. When asked why - "unfortunately" - she does not give a definite answer.
Eight patients have been laboratory-confirmed to have influenza and 72 to have contracted Covid, according to data from the week before last.
Seven deaths were also recorded in patients who had contracted Covid. Before that, 10 people died, and 11 the week before.
"As medics, we see that the risks are the same! There are many more deaths, and there are many more in hospitals at any given time with Covid," says SPKC spokesman Perevoščikovs.
