V.flu shot yes or no? For those who still have doubts, the flu campaign for the 2022-23 season. According to the first estimates of the experts, the flu is about to present itself this winter it will have a not slight shape, and with great probability I will be joined by a new wave of infections from Covid-19. For these reasons (the concomitance with a new Covid variant and the non-lightness of the flu strain) and to offer everyone greater protection, the flu campaign started early.
Professor Pregliasco: “The important thing is to get vaccinated”
«The important thing is to get vaccinated. We expect a lively season because in Australia in August, their winter, the flu was the worst in the last 5 years. And in conjunction with the pandemic and with the new wave that is expected around November, it is good to protect yourself and the elderly “, explains the Professor. Fabrizio PregliascoScientific Director of the Influenza Observatory, Associate Professor of General and Applied Hygiene at the Virology Section of the Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health of the University of Milan and Health Director of IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute.
Vaccine: who is it for?
In the circular “Prevention and control of influenza: recommendations for the 2022-2023 season”the Ministry of Health recalls that vaccination is the most effective form of prevention of influenza, classified with pneumonia associated with it “Among the top 10 leading causes of death in Italy”.
Fragile, children and young people
It is very important that also the frail in general get vaccinated children and young people, which can be a carrier of viruses for grandparents and family members with other pathologies. The influence however is one pathology not to be overlooked: come on 5 to 15 thousand deaths a year he always made them as a result of illness.
The third or fourth dose of Covid together with the flu vaccine
«Even covid vaccination will not be mandatory but recommended for the frail and at risk. It can be done in the same session. As always it is useful to everyone, reduces the problems of diagnosis difficulties between covid and influenza, there are already various early cases. We expect the bulk of the flu when it gets colder », explains Pregliasco. It is therefore recommended to everyone, of course in agreement with your referring doctor.
Who can do it for free
The vaccine is recommended and offered free of charge to frail subjects who run a greater risk of complications in case of flu:
1. people with more than 60 years
2. women in pregnancy and post partum
3. i hospitalized in long-term care
4. people with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart and respiratory diseases or problems with the immune system
5. certain categories of workers such as health and social health personnel, police forces and firefighters, breeders or those who work in contact with animals, and blood donors.
6. non-at-risk children aged 6 months-6 yearsalso in order to reduce the circulation of the influenza virus between adults and the elderly.
The recommendations of the Ministry of Health
Based on the circulating viral strains and the trend of influenza-like syndromes (ILI) around the world, the Global Influenza Surveillance Network of the WHOin collaboration with i National Influenza Centers (NIC) annually updates the composition of the flu vaccine, then resumed with the annual circular of Ministry of Health.
- Vaccination is the plus means effective And safe to prevent the flu and reduce its complications.
- The flu shot is anyway suitable for all subjects who wish to avoid influenza illness and who have no specific contraindications, after consulting their doctor.
- Since influenza viruses change often, vaccination must be repeated every year.
- In winter they also circulate other viruses which cause fever and cold, often mistaken for flu. The vaccine is not effective against these viruses, because it only protects against flu viruses.
- Data i similar symptoms between COVID-19 and flu, the importance of vaccination is also underlined for the 2021-2022 flu seasonto simplify the diagnosis and management of suspected cases.
- This year it is possible schedule the administration of the two vaccines, anti-influenza and anti-SARS-Cov-2in same vaccination session.
- Depending on the case, you can get vaccinated:
- at your own doctor family or pediatrician of free choice
- At health facilities or surgeries vaccination and prevention
- in some cases at the workplace by the occupational doctor.
- The vaccine is administered with an intramuscular injectionin the upper arm (deltoid muscle) in adults and in the anterolateral thigh muscle in children.
How long does the protection last
As reported by the Ministry of Healthvaccine-induced protection it begins about two weeks after vaccination and lasts for a period of six to eight months and then decrease. For this it is necessary to undergo flu vaccination at the beginning of each new flu season.
What vaccine for over 65s
Ultra 65 is better to prefer a vaccine high dose quadrivalent or adjuvanted with MS 59 (FLUAD). Then there are other types of vaccine, for example on cell culture that maintain a feature of greater similarity with respect to circulating viruses.
The spray vaccine for kids
“Young people from 2 to 17 years old they can do the live attenuated spray vaccine or even that on cell culture. For the little ones from 6 months to 9 years the split vaccine: the first time you do 2 doses, injecting one month apart if it is the first time you are vaccinated.
iO Donna © REPRODUCTION RESERVED