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Flu vaccination protects against complications. They can be administered during the same vaccination visit as other vaccinations, e.g. vaccination against COVID-19 or against pneumococci – told PAP Dr. Ewa Augustynowicz from the National Institute of Public Health of the National Institute of Hygiene.
In line with the new legal regulations from Tuesday, adults can get flu vaccinations free of charge at existing vaccination sites. They will be performed until March 31, 2022 or while stocks from the Governmental Agency for Strategic Reserves are exhausted.
- Flu vaccine free for adults. How to sign up?
Dr hab. Ewa Augustynowicz said that every epidemic season there are several million cases of illness and suspected flu and several thousand hospitalizations.
Flu is a risk of serious complications
She warned that influenza carries a risk of serious complications, especially for people at risk, including: pregnant women, children up to the end of 5 years of age, people aged 65 and over and patients with chronic diseases of the respiratory system, cardiovascular system, nervous system, kidneys, diabetes, cancer, immunodeficiency.
She explained that «the severe course of influenza is associated with the exacerbation of existing chronic diseases or the emergence of a new disease«. She noted that “multi-organ complications from influenza can lead to permanent disability or result in death”.
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She noted that, in addition to the respiratory tract, influenza affects many other organs and tissues. «The most common complications are: pneumonia and bronchitis, acute respiratory failure, sepsis, myocarditis, multi-organ failure (respiratory failure, renal failure, shock), exacerbation of chronic diseases including lungs, heart, nervous system, diabetes), secondary bacterial infections , miscarriages, as well as the death of the pregnant woman.
She noted that “complications from influenza can occur in anyone, regardless of age and health condition”. “The risk of complications, however, is particularly high in the following groups: people after transplants, the elderly, people with asthma and other chronic respiratory diseases, with heart and circulatory system diseases, with kidney diseases, with reduced immunity, in young children” – she pointed out.
COVID-19 and the flu: vaccination does not require intervals
Dr. Augustynowicz emphasized that “influenza vaccination reduces the frequency of infections and the severity of the disease”. “Most importantly, they protect against complications in the course of the flu” – she noted. She explained that “people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 at any time can get the flu vaccine”. “No gaps are required,” she noted. «Experts even indicate that flu vaccination can be administered at the same vaccination visit as other vaccinations, e.g. vaccination against COVID-19 or vaccination against pneumococci.»Said Dr. Augustynowicz.
When asked whether the low percentage of people vaccinated against influenza translates into the number of people who get flu in Poland, the chief research and technical specialist of the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Supervision of the National Institute of Public Health, the National Institute of Public Health, admitted that the flu vaccine is not ideal.
Vaccinations prevent diseases in the group of 40-70 percent. healthy people.
She noted that the effectiveness of the vaccine depends on the flu season. «However, vaccinations are the most effective and cheapest strategy to prevent this disease»- she pointed.
She noted that influenza complications may have life-long health consequences, such as the necessity to convert to a disability pension, and even result in death due to the exacerbation of existing or the emergence of new chronic diseases.
She explained that the flu, unlike the common cold, is an acute infection of the upper respiratory tract caused by flu viruses. «Characteristic for influenza is the sudden onset of the disease, high infectivity and accompanying respiratory symptoms such as: cough, sore throat, runny nose».
He also mentioned systemic symptoms such as: high fever above 38 degrees C, chills, muscle pain / stiffness, headache, chest pain, malaise, lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting. The fever and other general symptoms generally disappear within a week, and the cough usually lasts longer (2 weeks or more).
For diagnosis, she said, a nasopharyngeal swab for RT-PCR or a rapid antigen test is recommended.
However, in the case of a cold, the symptoms include: sore throat, runny nose, cough, sneezing, rarely headaches, muscle pain, rarely low fever. «They build up gradually and recover in most cases within 7-10 days.
Author: Magdalena Gronek
Read also:
- Can I get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?
- Is it too late to get a flu shot? We explain
- What does COVID-19 look like now? When are the first symptoms, after how many days do we become infected?
- Influenza epidemic in Poland. A record was set in October
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
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