When is the best time to get a flu shot? [WE EXPLAIN]

At the beginning of September, the first batches of vaccines for the new flu season were delivered to Polish pharmacies. Then the interest was so great that there was a fear that the preparations would not be enough for everyone. Does it still make sense to get the flu vaccine today? Is it too late this season?

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) sets the composition of flu vaccines each year
2. Flu is now vaccinated seasonally. This means that a person who got vaccinated a year ago should also receive the injection in 2021. Last year’s injection does not provide immunity to new strains of the flu virus
3. The infection season has already begun. However, this does not mean that it is too late to get the flu shot
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

When is the best time to get the flu vaccine?

Each year, the World Health Organization sets the composition of flu vaccines. In 2021, the first batch of preparations was delivered to pharmacies in September. In total, 4 million doses of four different vaccines are to be allocated to Polish citizens this year. Last year, 2 people were vaccinated against influenza. 300 inhabitants of our country.

The “assault on pharmacies” of people willing to vaccinate began in September. Today, more than a month later, some people are wondering if it still makes sense to sign up for the flu vaccine at this stage. After all, the infection season has already begun.

1. See also: The number of deaths after the pandemic scares doctors. «Whoever survived, survived. And whoever was weaker died »

Post-vaccination immunity becomes apparent within two to three weeks of injection and lasts for approximately six months. Experts therefore recommend signing up for the injection before the peak of the infection season. And this, according to the NIPH-PZH, usually falls in the period from January to March.

As Paulina Keler from the press office of the Polish Program Against Influenza said in an interview with Medonet, flu vaccines can be vaccinated from September to January and even February. This means that it is not too late for an injection. On the contrary – this is a very good time!

The rest of the text is below the video.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

On the NIPH-NIH website there is a detailed list of indications for influenza vaccination. There are two categories of premises: clinical and epidemic.

The clinical indication is all conditions associated with impaired immunity. This list includes pregnant or planning women, organ transplant patients, cancer patients, children and adults with decreased immunity due to diseases (e.g. asthma, diabetes or coronary heart disease), and children with congenital heart defects.

1. The editorial office recommends: A year ago it was almost 30 thousand. infections daily. Is this waiting for us now?

The epidemic premise applies to, among others, healthy children from 6 months to 18 years of age, people over 55, as well as seniors, health care workers or those in contact with children.

Flu vaccination – what for?

Flu is a viral disease that most healthy people have a mild disease. However, not always, because infection with the influenza virus can lead to hospitalization, as well as complications that are dangerous to health.

Flu vaccination provides 40 to 70 percent. protection against disease in the case of healthy people under 65 years of age. A very important action of the vaccine is protection against post-influenza complications, which, according to the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, may have health consequences for the rest of your life.

For seniors and patients with chronic lung disease, the vaccine more than halves hospital admissions for pneumonia and influenza. When it comes to deaths, it reduces them by 70% in this group.

Also read:

1. The R index in Poland is growing. Where is the tallest?
2. A year ago, it was almost 30. infections daily. Is it waiting for us now?
3. The number of deaths after the pandemic terrifies doctors. «Whoever survived, survived. And whoever was weaker died »
4. Are we ready for the fourth wave? Doctor: there is confusion
5. The RS virus attacks with doubled force. “Something like that has never happened before”

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