Expert: I recommend that you get flu vaccinations commonly
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Today there is no other more effective protection against infection with various pathogens. Vaccines protect us from getting sick or, in a situation where our immune system is too weak to produce a sufficient army of antibodies to fight the pathogen, they support a milder course of the disease, writes Dr. n. Farm in Medexpress. Leszek Borkowski.

The vaccine is a training for our body

Various vaccinations are a form of training for the immune system. There are no medals without training – every athlete knows that.

Things worth remembering:

  1. The period of building up immunity after vaccination may last up to, for example, 3 weeks.
  2. The flu incubates in the body for several days, so if you come into contact with the virus immediately before or immediately after vaccination, you may get the flu.
  3. The vaccine does not protect against a cold, although some of the symptoms are similar to those of flu.
  4. Any vaccine may not trigger an immune response in all people who are vaccinated. The immune response may be diminished if the patient is undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
  5. The flu vaccine is not effective in immunizing against all strains of the flu virus. It is to provide protection against the strains of the virus on the basis of which it was prepared and against related strains.
  6. If we vaccinate with several vaccines at the same time, we have to check whether it is possible in a specific case, because there is no interference, and we remember to vaccinate in different distant places on the body of the vaccinated person.
  7. Vaccination should be postponed in patients suffering from moderate or severe fever or acute illness.
  8. We do not vaccinate people who are allergic to eggs with flu vaccines.
  9. Inactivated influenza vaccines can be used at all stages of pregnancy.

See also: Everyone should get a flu shot this year. Will this save us from COVID-19?

WHO approved vaccine types

The vaccines described below will prevent two A subtypes and two B types of influenza virus. Vaccines comply with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Northern Hemisphere and the recommendations of the European Union.

Influvac Tetra for people from 18 years of age, Influenza vaccine – surface antigen. The active substances are influenza virus surface systigens (inactivated) (haemagglutinin and neuraminidase) corresponding to the following strains:

  1. A / California / 7/2009 (H1N1) pdm09-like strain (A / California / 7/2009, NYMC X-181)
  2. A / Texas / 50/2012 (pN2) -like strain (A / Texas / 50/2012, NYMC X-223A)
  3. B / Massachusetts / 2/2012 – like strain (B / Massachusetts / 2/2012, NYMC BX-51B)
  4. B / Brisbane / 60/2008 – like strain (B / Brisbane / 60/2008, wild type).

Fluarix Tetra for children from 6 months of age and adults. Flu vaccine – split virion. Active substances:

  1. A / Brisbane / 02/2018 (H1N1) pdm09 – similar strain (A / Brisbane / 02/2018, IVR-190)
  2. A / Kansas / 14/2017 (H3N2) – like strain (A / Kansas / 14/2017, NYMC X-327)
  3. B / Colorado / 06/2017 – like strain (B / Maryland / 15/2016, NYMC BX-69A)
  4. B / Phuket / 3073/2013 – like strain (B / Phuket / 3073/2013, wild strain)

VaxigripTetra is the flu vaccine – split virion. Active substances

  1. A / Brisbane / 02/2018 (H1N1) pdm09 – similar strain (A / Brisbane / 02/2018, IVR-190)
  2. A / Kansas / 14/2017 (H3N2) – like strain (A / Kansas / 14/2017, NYMC X-327)
  3. B / Colorado / 06/2017 – like strain (B / Maryland / 15/2016, NYMC BX-69A)
  4. B / Phuket / 3073/2013 – like strain (B / Phuket / 3073/2013, wild type)

When asked which one I would choose for myself, I answer: the one I will get. When asked which I would choose for children from 6 months to 18 years of age, I answer: Fluarix Tetra or Vaxigrip Tetra. Passive immunization of infants from birth to six months of age occurs after vaccination of pregnant women. I will speak about the accuracy of my advice after the observation period ended the flu season 2020/2021.

Other vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic

Addendum for reconsideration: During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been reported that countries where children are vaccinated with BCG (due to the high risk of tuberculosis) have fewer cases and fewer deaths from COVID-19.

See: A booster dose of TB vaccination may protect against COVID-19

I wonder if, following the example of various hospitals in the world, consider giving the staff and other professional and social groups, such as the military, police, volunteers, BCG vaccines, the so-called reminder because you did not receive it at the age of 18. A long time ago, young people were vaccinated in schools around the age of 18. The so-called vaccination against tuberculosis.

There are interesting reports that BCG vaccines, used against tuberculosis, also stimulate non-specific immunity against other pathogenic microorganisms. There is evidence that BCG vaccination increases the activity of the immune system against other pathogens.

The editorial board recommends:

  1. WHO chief: we hope the pandemic will end in two years
  2. Should there be an obligation to wear masks in the workplace in Poland?
  3. How to convince a skeptic to wear a mask? Ask one question

Author: dr n. Farm. Leszek Borkowski

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