The importance of vaccining against influenza

During the coming weeks, the vaccination campaign against the flu 2021-2022 and this year with a very clear goal will be developed: vaccinating at least 75% of

The importance of vaccining against influenza

During the coming weeks, the vaccination campaign against the flu 2021-2022 and this year with a very clear goal will be developed: vaccinating at least 75% of those over 65 and health personnel, as well as overcome 60% in Pregnant women and other people with risk conditions. It is an ambitious goal but the occasion requires it: the "coexistence" of the Coronavirus and the influenza virus can be deadly. And it's not a way of speaking. The risk of death is more than double in the case of coinfection. These are some of the most frequent doubts:

It is the question of the million. No country in the northern hemisphere has dared to take out the crystal ball and make predictions about the possible evolution of the flu this season. The recommendation of all countries is that risk people vacve to flu and then, to cross their fingers so that everything goes well. Why this year may be different from last year, in which there was hardly any flu? The difference is clear: the expected moment of maximum flu virus this year will no longer be confined or semi-filled or restricted, but rather with an important relaxation of the measures, including that of the use of the mask. We really do not know what can happen.

No. It is a Bulo that has circulated happily. There is no evidence that by vaccinating the flu one is increasing from being infected by coronavirus or passing the disease more seriously. On the contrary, what could happen is that one end up suffering simultaneously the two diseases.

No. In fact, just like last year, this year it is recommended more than ever to risk people vaciting flu. If the pandemic by Coronavirus coincide in time and the flu epidemic can be liar, especially for risk groups. As we commented, the risk of death is multiplied by two in people infected by SARS-COV-2 and flu.

Yes. It is recommended that all those who belong to a risk group and have exceeded the COVID-19 or have passed by a mild or asymptomatic manner vacved from the flu at the end of the recommended isolation days. The close contacts of a confirmed case can also be vaccinated as long as the quarantine has passed and no longer have symptoms.

Yes. It is likely that in many elderly or risk people coincide the administration of the third additional dose with that of the flu vaccine. In the studies carried out to date, it has not been observed that the side effects increase if vaccination is performed simultaneously. In fact, it can administratively be a good idea to speed up visits to the vaccination center. In this case, the recommendation is to administer vaccines in different arms.

As each year, the Interiorritorial Council of the National Health System collects as risk groups mainly to people over 65 (especially institutionalized), people with chronic or immunosuppressed diseases and their caregivers, pregnant, premature, health personnel, risk workpill , etc.

Recently, the Advisory Committee for Vaccines of the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP) has also published its annual recommendations on antique vaccination of children and adolescents. And in this campaign, as a novelty, the usual ranking groups add universal childhood vaccination in children between 6 and 59 months (almost 5 years). Although this proposal does not include Interiorritorial Council of the National Health System (although it was requested in February to the Ministry), it is found within the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Center for Prevention and Control of diseases since 2012. The objective is, not only to provide the child individual protection against influenza but also to their relatives and closely and thus achieve greater social good.

There are two reasons, both derived from the decrease in cases of flu during the past autumn-winter. On the one hand, we can find a decrease in immunological stimuli having been less exposed to blip viruses. That is, the flu virus caught us a little uninterred and "out of the game". On the other, by not having barely "historical" last year, this season has been especially difficult to choose the viral strains for the vaccine and it is unknown what its real efficiency can be. All this, as we mentioned at the beginning, together with the reduction of prevention measures, places us before a factory shaker whose result is to be seen. The good news? This year, unlike the previous one, we will have availability of flu vaccines at pharmacies. On time we are.

Date Of Update: 17 October 2021, 11:53