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The fall-winter season is in full swing. Let’s not forget that not only COVID-19, but also the flu, still poses a serious threat to our health and life – people from high-risk groups, including children, are particularly vulnerable. According to the reports of the NIPH-NIH, from the beginning of September, over 840 thousand people fell ill with influenza and flu-like diseases. people.
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Last season, the number of cases over the same period was 454. – this means that today there are almost twice as many sick people as a year ago! It is also worth emphasizing that 55% of all flu patients are children under the age of 14. Vaccination is an important step in preventing the spread of the flu virus. Thanks to the regulation of the Ministry of Health, more and more social groups can get vaccinated completely for free or take advantage of a 50% refund.
The most vulnerable groups
Remember that flu is an insidious disease that attacks unexpectedly, and serious complications can occur at any age. The groups most at risk of their appearance are:
- dzieci
- elder people
- people with chronic conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease)
- pregnant women
- immunocompromised people.
Children play a key role in the transmission of flu. Not only are they the main reservoir of viruses, but they can also develop serious complications from influenza, such as otitis media, pneumonia, sinusitis, and febrile seizures. Children are particularly vulnerable to the disease because they do not have a fully developed immune system. According to WHO data, 20-30% of children suffer from influenza each year; by comparison, the disease affects only about 5-10% of adults. For every 10 children who leave school because of the flu, there are 8 household members who also caught the virus, demonstrating the role of the youngest in spreading it.
Currently, we can see a significant burden on the health care system. Pediatric wards are bursting at the seams: more and more children suffer not only from the flu, but also from the RS virus, which is just as dangerous. Due to the tense epidemiological situation and the occupying more and more places in hospitals by children with flu, flu-like or RSV infections, planned admissions and treatments are canceled. In Poland, the level of childhood immunization is very low (less than 1%), which is why the virus spreads so quickly and easily. How can this be prevented? Get vaccinated that protects not only the vaccinated person but also those around them.
How can I protect myself against the flu?
Regular physical activity, a balanced diet rich in vegetables and fruits, as well as an adequate amount of sleep strengthen the immune system. Frequent hand washing, airing rooms, and the use of tissues are simple measures that also help reduce the transmission of the virus. However, the most effective method in the fight against influenza are vaccinations, recommended by international medical communities, including WHO or the Polish Society of Vaccinology. The vaccine has been shown to reduce the incidence of flu-related illnesses and the risk of serious complications from influenza that could result in hospitalization and even death. It strengthens the immune system, and also “teaches” the body to fight the virus.
When is the best time to have the vaccine?
You can get vaccinated from September to January, as the peak incidence is between January and March. The patient will have time to acquire vaccine immunity, as it develops within 2-3 weeks of vaccination. Therefore, let us not think that it is too late to vaccinate this season – on the contrary, now is the perfect time. It is worth adding that the effectiveness of flu vaccination in children is 60-90%. After receiving the vaccine, the frequency of flu-like symptoms is reduced by as much as 84%, while asthma exacerbations are reduced by 20-41%.
“Children should be vaccinated against the flu. After 6 months of age, it is possible to vaccinate with inactivated (compact) vaccines administered intramuscularly. After 24 months of age, a live (antennaed) intranasal vaccine can be administered. It should be remembered that if we vaccinate a child under 9 years of age against influenza for the first time in his life, we give two doses of the vaccine (regardless of whether it is an intranasal or intramuscular vaccine) with an interval of at least 4 weeks. Both the intranasal and intramuscular vaccines are similarly effective in a given season. A child can be vaccinated every year with a vaccine with a newly developed composition. It is worth remembering that children who are allergic to egg white may be vaccinated against the flu. Both types of vaccine are safe. You cannot get flu because of them, says the drug. Dagmara Chmurzyńska-Rutkowska, known on Instagram as @mamapediatra_blog.
Who can get vaccinated by 50% and who by 100% cheaper?
In the 2021/22 season, over 4 million doses of influenza vaccines will be delivered to Poland, of which 1 will be available in pharmacies as part of the reimbursement, 360 doses will be delivered to health care centers at full price, while the remaining vaccines will be at the disposal of the Government Strategic Reserves Agency. The first batches of vaccines appeared in September, while in November a total of over 000 will hit the market. influenza vaccines (intranasal, injection). The next tranches will reach our country by mid-December.
It is worth noting that this year the Ministry of Health has expanded the list of people eligible for reimbursement: free flu vaccines are available to seniors over 75 years of age and pregnant women. 50% of the refund covers people aged 65-74, children aged 6 months to 18 and people aged 18-64 who suffer from comorbidities. All others who are not covered by the reimbursement can also get vaccinated, but for full payment.