Flu shot: to do or not

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Winter and flu epidemic are ahead. The life hacker figured out whether the vaccination will help you and your child, who will run to the clinic, and who should not take the risk.

Why do I need a flu shot?

Vaccination is the only sure way to protect yourself from the flu.

Influenza is an acute viral infection that spreads rapidly from person to person. The disease is difficult: the body temperature rises above 38 ° C, muscles and joints ache, there is a severe headache, weakness, then a cough and a runny nose.

There are no specific drugs against influenza: antibiotics do not work against viruses, antiviral agents are not always effective. At the same time, the risk of developing complications is high: up to half a million people die every year from influenza and related diseases.

Influenza spreads quickly, so there are epidemics every year. No preventive measure is as effective as vaccination.

How does it work?

Any virus or bacteria contains proteins. For us, they are antigens. When these proteins enter the body, the immune system begins to produce antibodies in response - its own proteins that should destroy the infection.

The vaccine contains weakened or dead infectious agents (or parts of them in general). They are not capable of causing disease, but the immune system reacts to them and forms antibodies.

If a virus attacks you later, the immune system will respond quickly: the antibodies are already at the ready. Therefore, the disease will not begin or will pass in a mild form.

Does a flu shot always help?

The effectiveness of influenza vaccines is on average 70-80%. A relatively low figure, and this has its own reasons:

• The flu virus has many varieties and mutates rapidly. Vaccination does not protect against a virus that is not involved in the current year's epidemic, but you can get sick with an unpopular variety.
• Vaccines work with different efficiencies, with modern drugs it is higher.

For those who get the vaccine and still get sick, the flu is easier and does not cause complications.

The vaccine only protects against the flu, but you can catch another viral infection with similar symptoms.

If the virus is constantly mutating, how do doctors know which vaccine is needed?

The flu changes, but according to certain laws. Researchers have figured them out and have learned to predict which virus will be dangerous in the new year.

There are several varieties of the virus that serve as samples for the new strain. Each strain is different from the previous one, but at the same time retains the bulk of the properties of the sample. So it is possible to create a vaccine for a new virus if you know which prototype will cause an epidemic. Modern vaccines are trivalent and tetravalent, that is, they protect against 3-4 types of the virus.

The World Health Organization constantly monitors changes in the virus and issues recommendations on what to focus on when making vaccines. And manufacturers are adapting drugs based on WHO guidelines.

For example, in 2016–2017 in the Northern Hemisphere:

• A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus
• A / Hong Kong / 4801/2014 (H3N2) -like virus;
• B / Brisbane / 60/2008-like virus.

It is not always possible to predict the appearance of unusual strains. Then the epidemics become global. This happened with atypical viruses: avian and swine flu.

Who needs to be vaccinated?

Vaccination is recommended for everyone, but especially:

• Children (after six months) and the elderly, because the flu is especially dangerous for them.
• Schoolchildren and students, because they are in contact with a large number of people.
• Adults who have to work with people: healthcare workers, teachers, salespeople, and so on.
• People with chronic illnesses, because the flu, in combination with other illnesses, leads to serious consequences.

WHO is to be vaccinated for pregnant women, because the flu, unlike vaccinations, can seriously harm the fetus.

Are vaccinations safe?

Yes, as far as possible. Any drug has contraindications, they depend on the specific one.

The safest are split vaccines (split vaccines), subunit and whole viral vaccines. They do not contain a live virus, they are injected with an injection.

Live vaccines are produced in the form of a spray, they have more contraindications.

What are the consequences?

The main danger is an allergic reaction, for example, to chicken protein or other components of the vaccine. If you have ever had problems with vaccinations, either choose vaccines that are allergen-free or skip immunization altogether.

Other serious consequences, such as damage to the nervous system, are extremely rare, and flu shots in this sense are the safest.

An increase in temperature to 37.5 ° C, redness and slight swelling at the injection site is a normal reaction that indicates the formation of an immune response. It is unpleasant, but such symptoms disappear in a couple of days.

Who shouldn't be vaccinated?

Absolute contraindications to vaccinations are the already mentioned allergies and severe immunodeficiencies. In such conditions, no vaccinations can be given.

Refuse vaccinations if you are not feeling well or if you have an exacerbation of a chronic illness. Postpone vaccination until recovery or remission.

In any case, before vaccination, you or your child must be examined by a doctor who will transfer or prohibit vaccination if there are contraindications.

When to get the flu shot?

It is best to get vaccinated before mid-November. After vaccination, immunity to influenza is developed in 2 weeks, so you need to have time to get vaccinated before the epidemic begins.

But the risk of getting the flu usually lasts until spring, so even in winter it makes sense to get vaccinated.

Where is the best vaccination and which one?

It depends on which vaccine you want to choose. In state clinics, as a rule, there are domestic drugs. In this "Sovigripp", "Grippol", "Ultrix" and their varieties for children. These are new generation vaccines, safe and effective, but they contain chicken protein that not everyone can do.

Some clinics and private clinics offer vaccines from other countries that have fewer contraindications. Be sure to check that the medical institution has a license, and specify that the vaccine was released this year: the instructions should say that the strains have been updated in accordance with WHO recommendations.

How to prepare for vaccination?

No special preparation for vaccination is needed. Vitamins, dietary supplements and antihistamines do not affect the rate of immunity production. The maximum that can be done is not to visit crowded places a few days before vaccination, so as not to pick up some viral infection and not get vaccinated during the incubation period (and not to say later that vaccines are to blame for everything). Also, a couple of days before the procedure, eliminate allergens from food and do not try new foods.

I'm against. Can a child be vaccinated without my consent?

No. Before vaccination, the patient must sign an informed voluntary consent for medical intervention. Parents do it for the child.

If you do not want your child to be vaccinated against the flu, and are afraid that in kindergarten or school your child may be vaccinated “along with everyone else,” do not sign the consent. Instead, write a waiver of prophylactic vaccinations and make sure it is pasted on the medical record. The doctor must tell you about the possible consequences.

Nowadays, vaccinations without parental consent are rare, but if this happens, you can file a complaint with the prosecutor's office.

I want to know more. What to read?

Pay attention to:

• "On the immunization of infectious diseases." There is information on how immunization should be administered.
• contains information about which vaccinations and who are entitled to free.
• Changes to the vaccination calendar are additions to the previous document.
• - information for specialists and everyone who is interested.
• WHO Dispel Myths About Vaccinations.