Should I get a flu shot or write a refusal? Everything about vaccinations for children and adults

Content:

• How dangerous is the flu?
• How does the vaccine work?
• Where and when are they vaccinated?
• Do I need to get vaccinated?
• Vaccination validity period
• What should the vaccine be?
• Indications for vaccination
• Who should not get the flu vaccine?
• Restrictions on vaccination of pregnant women
• Groundless fears or a reason to refuse vaccination? Answers to the main questions of parents
• Doctor Komarovsky about flu vaccinations
• Precautions after vaccination
• Can you get the flu after vaccination?
• How can an adult or child refuse a flu vaccine?
• Flu vaccination against the background of coronavirus
• Side effects from vaccination

How dangerous is the flu?

Flu is a viral disease that can lead to serious complications. According to WHO statistics, 300-500 thousand people worldwide die every year due to influenza.

The incubation period is short - 1-2 days, after which health worsens and symptoms appear. Many medications do not work against the new strain of influenza because the virus mutates and adapts to the drugs that were developed and used against it. Flu vaccination is considered the most effective way of protection.

An infectious disease causes:

• heat;
• chills;
• general malaise;
• headache;
• sore or sore throat;
• cough;
• a feeling of aching in muscles and joints.

A severe course of the disease threatens people with weakened immune systems and chronic diseases. It is not the flu itself that causes death, but the complications it provokes. These include:

• bronchitis;
• meningitis;
• myocarditis;
• otitis;
• pericarditis;
• pneumonia;
• rhinitis;
• sinusitis;
• tracheitis;
• encephalitis.

The virus causes diseases not only of the upper respiratory tract and ENT organs, from which symptoms most often appear, but also affects the organs of the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Influenza can be confused with acute respiratory infections or ARVI - they also cause fever, headache, fatigue, runny nose and cough.

The flu begins suddenly and manifests itself with aggressive symptoms. Viruses type A and B multiply rapidly and infect the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract within a matter of hours from the moment of infection.

How does the vaccine work?

WHO advocates general immunization of the population. Flu vaccines provide immunity to several common strains of the virus that will attack this fall. The flu shot does not cure and does not provide a 100% guarantee that you will not get infected. The vaccine provokes activation of the immune system to form antibodies to the influenza virus. It reduces the risk of illness and makes it easier to cope with the flu if it cannot be avoided. The antibodies produced recognize the virus by sight and immediately attack it during the incubation period. Vaccination prepares the body before the start of a new season of respiratory diseases. If this is not done, then the likelihood of developing serious complications is high.

The effectiveness of preventive vaccination is higher than taking immunomodulators, a course of vitamins, treatment with homeopathic medicines and traditional medicine. Despite the fact that many manage to recover from the flu in 7-14 days without complications, for people at risk, a flu epidemic can lead to irreversible consequences. Just because you've had the flu easily before doesn't mean your immune system will handle the new flu strain just as well.

Can a flu vaccination boost immunity against coronavirus?

Such a hypothesis exists, but needs to be tested. This epidemic season will give us the answer to this question. The only thing that can be said is that when vaccination is carried out (this has been noticed before), within one month after vaccination the number of other respiratory diseases decreases.

When vaccinated, the body reacts not only by developing specific immunity to the influenza virus, but also increases other immunity factors, so “double” protection, although not one hundred percent, is possible.

Where and when are they vaccinated?

The vaccine is administered by a healthcare professional under sterile conditions. Collective immunization is carried out in medical institutions:

• clinics;
• hospitals;
• medical offices in kindergartens, schools and enterprises;
• paid clinics.

People at risk are vaccinated at the expense of the state. The district nurse compiles a list of everyone who is most susceptible to the infectious disease, and then invites them to get a flu shot on a first-come, first-served basis. The vaccine is administered in the treatment room with the permission of the doctor, who conducted an examination and did not identify any contraindications to the drug.

Everyone else who is planning to get a preventive flu vaccination, but is not at risk, can get vaccinated at their own expense. You can buy the drug yourself, but the injection itself must be done under the supervision of a doctor. To do this, contact the clinic and find out about the procedure for immunization.

Vaccines are delivered on the eve of the expected epidemic. At the beginning of autumn, drugs cannot be found in medical institutions. Mass infection with the virus occurs in late autumn and early winter. September, October and November are good times to get a seasonal flu shot. If you want to build immunity to the virus before the peak of the epidemic, then there is no need to delay vaccination until December. It takes 2 to 4 weeks for antibodies to develop, so a vaccine at the beginning of winter would be practically pointless.

The influenza vaccine is given once before the epidemiological season. For adults and children over 3 years of age, the drug is administered subcutaneously into the shoulder. Children under 3 years old receive it in the form of 2 injections in the thigh. If children are eligible for vaccination against other diseases, the preventive flu vaccine can be given along with it or postponed to another date.

Six-month-old children and newborns are not vaccinated against influenza. In the first 6 months of life, children have enough immune protection that they received from their mother during intrauterine development.

Sometimes the vaccine is given intramuscularly under the shoulder blade in the deltoid muscle area. When a doctor gives 2 different vaccines, he injects them into different parts of the body: one in the thigh, one in the shoulder.

Vaccination

Most often, vaccination against influenza takes place in a clinic, but vaccination can be done in any other equipped institution if the patient wishes, for example, in a medical office of an enterprise, school, kindergarten, in a hospital, or a private medical clinic.

If the patient is at risk for possible influenza infection, vaccination should be planned and carried out in advance. On the eve of the start of the cold season (the potential season for the spread of the influenza virus - in late November - early December), such patients are invited to clinics, they are examined by a doctor, and then, if there are no health problems at the time of the examination, they are vaccinated.

If a person is not included in the risk group, but wants to independently protect himself from influenza vaccination, he needs to purchase any desired drug for vaccination and go to any medical institution, where he will be examined by a specialist and then given a referral for vaccination or undergo vaccination available for seasonal prophylaxis with the drug.

The flu vaccine is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly into the deltoid muscle area. In the case of subcutaneous administration of the vaccine, the drug is injected into the area under the shoulder blade or into the shoulder. Some live vaccines can be administered intranasally by specialists.

It is important to remember that the risk category for influenza includes all children without exception.

However, vaccinating children against influenza has its own characteristics:

• young children can be given the flu vaccine no earlier than six months of age;
• Almost all flu vaccinations for young children are given twice;
• For children, the vaccine is administered only in the femoral area.

Such features are explained by the presence of maternal immunity in a child up to 6 months of age, and the need for revaccination a month later to strengthen immunity. The femoral area is optimal for anti-influenza vaccination in children due to the fact that if the body reacts to the administered drug, it is easiest to carry out resuscitation measures in this area (apply a tourniquet).

At the age when children attend kindergarten, they especially need a flu shot, since they do not yet have immunity to many diseases, and the large number of children contributes to the spread of a large number of infections. In the case of influenza, in this state of affairs, an outbreak of an epidemic of the disease is possible. The most ideal situation is when all members of the children's team are vaccinated against influenza. Together with them, all adults who are in constant contact with children - parents, brothers and sisters, teachers - should also be vaccinated. Before vaccinating a child, three days before, he should have minimal contact with third parties who can infect him with any infection. The same should be done for three days after vaccination - crowded places must be excluded from the child’s environment during this period of time. The most optimal situation is when the child, after vaccination, remains at home for a week under the supervision of his parents. If these rules are followed, stable specific immunity will be formed.

Do I need to get vaccinated?

Flu is a disease that can be cured by eliminating its cause, not its consequences. Due to similar symptoms to acute respiratory infections, it is impossible to immediately prescribe etiotropic therapy without excluding the bacterial nature of the disease in the laboratory. Doctors prescribe symptomatic therapy, trying to smooth out the symptoms of influenza and make the patient feel better.

An acute viral disease is transmitted by airborne droplets and does not appear during the first 72 hours. You may come into contact with an apparently healthy person and not suspect that viruses are already operating in his body. Vaccination is the only method of protection against seasonal diseases whose effectiveness has been recognized by WHO.

In addition to the constant companions of autumn - acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and influenza, the current epidemiological season is burdened by a new coronavirus infection. People with weakened immune systems and chronic diseases should prepare in advance for encounters with viruses, protecting themselves from them, at least not completely, but partially.

Contraindications for flu vaccination: Who should wait to get vaccinated in 2021

Not everyone can get a vaccine that is useful and especially needed in 2021, and not always.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV

In September 2021, mobile first aid stations will begin operating in Moscow, where everyone can get a free flu vaccination. Vaccination will become available not only in clinics, but throughout the city. Cars in which people can get vaccinated will be located near metro stations, and medical tents will be deployed in shopping centers. It is better to get vaccinated even for those who usually neglect the vaccine, relying on the strength of their immunity. In the coronavirus year, no one needs the flu at all. Therefore, at the first opportunity, inject yourself.

But first remember if you have any contraindications to the flu shot. Vladimir Beketov, candidate of medical sciences, general practitioner, and pulmonologist at Sechenov University, who should postpone vaccination

In the coronavirus year, no one needs the flu at all. Therefore, at the first opportunity, inject yourself.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV

It is important to remember that all absolute contraindications to any vaccination drug are always specified in the instructions, the expert notes. Therefore, it is enough to enter the names of the modern most used vaccines for the prevention of influenza into a search engine on the Internet (these are “Grippol”, “Vaxigrip”, “Flu-M”, “Ultrix”, “Sovigripp”) to read about what diseases and conditions There is no need to get vaccinated.

— For our Russian scientific and medical community, for pulmonologists and virologists, great pride is that a very good and competitive, effective and high-quality vaccine “Flu-M” has appeared in Russia, the use of which began successfully last fall, and I am sure that the vaccine will also be actively used this season, since its set of strains corresponds to the current epidemiological situation in the world,” says general practitioner and pulmonologist Vladimir Beketov.

In September 2021, mobile first aid stations will begin operating in Moscow, where everyone can get a free flu vaccination.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV

WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE INJECTIONS

An absolute contraindication is individual intolerance to the components of the vaccine, which manifested itself in previous vaccinations.

— We are talking about a serious negative reaction to the vaccine. Not redness of the injection site or a short-term increase in temperature, or poor health for a day or two, but really serious reactions up to anaphylactic shock, loss of consciousness, or the development of other life-threatening conditions,” clarifies the general practitioner, pulmonologist Vladimir Beketov.

Vaccination will become available not only in clinics, but throughout the city.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV

WHO CAN, BUT WITH RESERVATIONS

If acute allergic reactions to the vaccine have not happened to you, and you previously tolerated vaccination normally, then the following may be a reason to postpone vaccination until you recover:

- increased body temperature;

- catarrhal phenomena, that is, any inflammation of the mucous membranes or intestines, which lead to severe symptoms of mucus discharge. Essentially, these are snot, pharyngitis - diseases associated with inflammation of the throat; tonsillitis - inflammation of the tonsils (especially with purulent plugs);

- diarrhea;

- bacterial or fungal inflammations, such as cystitis.

— You need to be quite careful when vaccinating people with chronic diseases, especially rheumatoid and autoimmune diseases. Because their treatment is aimed at reducing immunity. This is not so much dangerous as it makes vaccination pointless - the formation of the necessary protective antibody titer will not happen, explains Vladimir Beketov.

Cars in which people can get vaccinated will be located near metro stations, and medical tents will be deployed in shopping centers.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV

“Modern influenza vaccines are non-live vaccines (produced without the use of a live virus - editor’s note), they are safe, well studied, and easily tolerated,” continues the expert. “And I would note the extreme importance of flu vaccination, especially in the context of a possible second wave of the new coronavirus pandemic.

The doctor says that in the early stages of the disease it will be difficult to distinguish the flu from COVID-19, and if the patient is vaccinated against the flu, it will be much easier for specialists to treat, and this virus can be excluded.

“In addition, this year we expect the accumulation of three epidemics: ARVI, influenza and COVID-19. Therefore, in these conditions, if it is possible to reliably protect against at least one of these diseases, of course, it is worth doing,” says general practitioner and pulmonologist Vladimir Beketov.

It is better to get vaccinated even for those who usually neglect the vaccine, relying on the strength of their immunity.

Photo: Ivan MAKEEV

IMPORTANT

A flu vaccine is being developed using chicken embryos. For many years this has been a contraindication for vaccination of people who are allergic to chicken egg proteins, the so-called ovalbumins.

“Modern flu vaccines, such as Ultrix or Flu-M, practically do not cause an allergic reaction to ovalbumin, or, if they do, it is very small, since the amount of ovalbumin in these drugs tends to zero,” explains the general practitioner. , pulmonologist Vladimir Beketov. “This suggests that the number of people who can be safely and effectively vaccinated against influenza is increasing every year.

Mass flu vaccinations began in Moscow on September 1

Our correspondent got vaccinated at one of the 450 medical centers.

MEANWHILE

When will vaccinations against coronavirus begin: Russians were divided into three groups

After mass testing on volunteers, a vaccination campaign will begin for all Russians (details)

What should the vaccine be?

Influenza vaccines vary in how they are made. They can be “live” or inactivated. The latter, in turn, are divided into whole virion, split, and subunit.

“Live” are drugs containing weakened influenza pathogens. They are viable, but not aggressive towards the body. The pathogens do not develop the flu, but stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies. Vaccination develops stable and strong immunity, but most often leads to side effects and complications. It is produced in the form of injections and a drug for instillation into the nose.

Inactivated vaccines consist of completely suppressed pathogens. The virus is grown artificially in chicken embryos. The resulting viruses are neutralized by ultraviolet light, purified from impurities and various chemical reactions.

Whole-virion preparations contain inactivated viruses and complete viral particles consisting of nucleic acid and an outer shell. They are contraindicated for preschool children, patients with allergies to chicken protein or to synthetic antibiotics from the aminoglycoside group.

The split vaccine contains destroyed viruses purified from proteins and fats of chicken embryos. Such drugs are produced for people with allergies to chicken protein.

The subunit vaccine includes 2 types of viral proteins that help strengthen the immune system.

Most often, all types of inactivated drugs are used in flu vaccination. Their effectiveness is not as high as that of “live” drugs, but they have excellent tolerability. Due to the fact that inactivated vaccinations come in several types, they can be selected for children and allergy sufferers, thereby reducing the risk of side effects.

Types of vaccines

In modern pharmacology, there are a large number of vaccines against the influenza virus. They all differ in their ability to influence the virus to prevent disease caused by different strains of the virus and the mildness of their effect on the body. To correctly select a flu vaccine, it is best to consult a doctor who will help determine for a particular person which vaccine in his case will be the most effective and will cause the fewest side effects.

All vaccines against the influenza virus help build immune defenses in the body. The choice should be made based on whether a person has an allergic reaction to chicken egg white, which is part of many vaccines, or to specific components of the drug.

By type, vaccines are live, that is, containing a dose of a live attenuated virus, whole virion based on chicken protein, split (protein-free) and subunit. The most popular live vaccine is the Russian drug “Live influenza allantoic vaccine” for intranasal administration, which helps protect simultaneously from 3 strains of the virus. This vaccine can only be administered to the body after the age of 3 years. The whole-virion Russian vaccine “Grippovac” can be used only from the age of seven and only in cases where the patient, after preliminary tests, does not have an allergy to chicken protein or aminoglycosides. If allergic reactions to chicken egg whites are detected, patients are vaccinated using split-split vaccines, such as the French Vaxigrip, German Begrivak or English Fluarix, which do not use egg whites. The most well-known subunit vaccines include Dutch (Influvac) and Russian (Grippol, Grippol Plus) drugs.

The vaccine is poorly tolerated by the human body only if during the administration of the drug the conditions of this procedure were violated, or after vaccination the patient did not comply with certain doctor’s instructions. If all immunization conditions are met, then any vaccine is tolerated quite easily.

Indications for vaccination

WHO recommends vaccination for people with weakened immune systems, as well as anyone whose profession involves contact with a large number of people. The vaccine is considered the only effective way to protect against exacerbation of chronic diseases. WHO recommends annual immunization for:

• tendency to frequent colds;
• asthma;
• presence of developmental defects;
• pathologies of the nervous system;
• heart failure;
• heart defects;
• kidney pathologies;
• vascular diseases;
• hormonal imbalances;
• disorders of the endocrine system;
• immunodeficiency;
• therapy that suppresses the immune system;
• pregnancy.

Children, people over 65 years of age and pregnant women are at increased risk. They have poor health, which makes it more difficult to overcome the viral disease without complications without influenza vaccines. Immunization is not contraindicated in cancer patients or patients who have recently undergone surgery.

Who should not get the flu vaccine?

A prophylactic flu vaccine should not be given if:

• allergic reaction to chicken protein;
• individual intolerance to antibiotics, preservatives and other components of the drug;
• acute form of the disease;
• manifestation of symptoms characteristic of influenza.

The flu vaccine is prohibited for newborns until they reach 6 months of age.

There is no point in getting vaccinated when you have a runny nose, fever or joint pain. It will be ineffective even if you do not have the flu, but a common acute respiratory infection. During an exacerbation of chronic diseases, the body is already weakened, so you should not get a flu shot containing inactivated pathogens.

How to get vaccinated in a clinic

No special preparation is required before vaccination. On the day of immunization, you need to bring your passport and compulsory medical insurance policy (Fig. 1). Voluntary informed consent is drawn up and signed on site. The instructions are:

1. At the clinic at your place of residence, you need to make an appointment with a therapist or infectious disease specialist and check the opening hours of the vaccination office.
2. The doctor examines for any contraindications to vaccination.
3. If no contraindications are identified, in the vaccination room, on the direction of the doctor, the nurse injects the vaccine intramuscularly into the shoulder.
4. Doctors recommend spending the next 15–30 minutes after vaccination in the clinic to make sure there are no unwanted post-vaccination reactions.

Figure 1. Passport and compulsory medical insurance policy - everything you need to have with you to get the flu vaccine in Russia.
Photo: Federal Migration Service of Russia A common reason for medical refusal from vaccination in Russia is the presence of a person’s allergy to chicken protein. The fact is that influenza viruses for many vaccines are grown using chicken embryos. In practice, people with allergies are actively vaccinated with such vaccines without consequences, since the viral proteins undergo thorough purification before entering the drug. However, if you have allergies, it is better to choose a cellular or recombinant vaccine.

Restrictions on vaccination of pregnant women

Pregnancy is a difficult period for a woman, during which it is prohibited to take medications. In order not to harm the development of the fetus, doctors recommend taking care of your health from the moment of conception until the birth of the baby. Vaccination helps pregnant women cope with viral diseases to which they are more susceptible than other people. The vaccine is given when planning pregnancy, in the 2nd and 3rd trimester. There is no need to get a vaccine in the first trimester.

An inactivated vaccine is selected for pregnant and nursing mothers. The choice of drug is approached with full responsibility. If there was no immunization before the start of pregnancy, then during pregnancy the doctor compares what will be more from the drug: benefit for the mother or harm to the unborn child. Flu is dangerous for both the child and the mother. And if the woman’s immune system is still able to fight the virus, the child may die. In severe cases of the disease, new strains of the virus can lead to miscarriage and developmental defects.

Vaccinations are not contraindicated for women in labor, but rather recommended. After childbirth, the body is weakened and cannot resist infections and viruses.

What is the power of immunity

New vaccines are now appearing. Is it possible to be vaccinated with another coronavirus vaccine a year after vaccination?

Leonid Dyakov : There is no problem. You can be vaccinated with another vaccine from another manufacturer. They differ only in their different reactions to the vaccine and its components.

Many people are frightened by this reaction. If, after vaccination, for example, a person has a fever, does this mean that his immunity will be stronger, unlike someone whose body did not react at all?

Leonid Dyakov : Temperature reaction is one of the mechanisms to fight infection. For some this mechanism works better, for others it works worse. The reaction that is necessary after vaccination is the production of antibodies. It is not always accompanied by an increase in temperature.

So, if symptoms appear, as with the flu and ARVI, do not worry. This means that the body found an imitation of the infection and began to develop protection for which it takes the drug. Other vaccines, not just coronavirus, also cause flu-like effects.

What if a person does not experience side effects?

Leonid Dyakov : This is also normal. The absence of flu-like symptoms does not mean that the vaccine did not work.

The effectiveness of the drug does not depend on how violently the body reacts to its administration. The body's reaction is always individual. It is determined by many factors: age, the state of the immune system and the general health of the body. And also whether the body has previously encountered other coronaviruses. Usually, young and strong people react sharply to vaccination, because their body has more strength to fight a “false” infection.

Groundless fears of parents or a reason to refuse vaccination?

The kindergarten, school, and clinic at the place of registration are responsible for immunizing children. Some parents are in favor of vaccination, others are against. Most often they doubt, not knowing the answers to the following questions.

How to choose a vaccine by age?

Vaccination is allowed for six-month-old children and older. For children under 3 years of age, the vaccine is divided into 2 doses, which are administered into the body at intervals of 4 weeks.

What to use against the flu for up to 6 months?

Children from birth to six months cannot be vaccinated, but you can protect them from viruses in 2 ways:

1. Vaccinate the mother in the second or third trimester.
2. After birth, vaccinate all family members who will be in contact with the newborn.

When is it better to refuse vaccination?

Immunization is contraindicated if the previously used vaccine caused a sharp increase in temperature to 39-40 degrees, an allergic reaction, blood flow and swelling at the injection site.

Should a child who has recently had a cold be vaccinated?

There is no need to vaccinate children with residual effects from acute respiratory viral infections and fever. Wait until you have fully recovered before making an appointment. Immunization is also undesirable in case of exacerbations of chronic diseases, sensitivity to chicken protein and drug components.

Will the vaccine cause the flu in children who get sick often?

The vaccine is safe for the health of children who do not have any contraindication to the drug. It is recommended to do it to strengthen the immune system and protect against exacerbation of chronic diseases:

• bronchial asthma;
• diabetes mellitus;
• pyelonephritis.

What will end first: a vaccine or a seasonal epidemic?

Most often, anti-influenza drugs are administered in September - before the massive spread of respiratory diseases begins this year. The drug will be valid until March next year and will reduce the risk of influenza infection throughout the entire epidemiological season.

Do not worry about the health and safety of your child, even during particularly dangerous periods. Always know where he is now or has been during the day, with whom he has been in contact and who surrounds him, and also instantly contact him if necessary using the “Where are my children” application.

Muscovites were told how flu vaccination is carried out

Photo: portal of the mayor and government of Moscow/Maxim Denisov
Flu vaccination in Moscow started on September 1. The portal of the mayor and government of Moscow answered the most important questions about vaccination.

Why is it especially important to get vaccinated this year?

According to the WHO forecast, this fall three new strains of the influenza virus will arrive in the Russian Federation, collective immunity to which has not yet been developed. The most effective and safe way to protect yourself from the disease is vaccination. To create herd immunity, it is necessary to vaccinate at least 60% of the total population and at least 75% in risk groups.

How dangerous is the flu?

During the flu, the temperature rises and the respiratory tract is affected, but even more dangerous are the complications that the disease gives. These are bronchitis, pneumonia, myocarditis and encephalitis, which can even lead to death.

Who is at risk?

Influenza is most dangerous for children, pregnant women, people over 60 years of age, children attending preschool educational organizations or staying in orphanages and orphanages.

Where does vaccination take place?

This year, vaccination is taking place at children's and adult clinics in separate vaccination rooms in two shifts. 54 mobile points have also been organized, which operate at 36 metro stations, 2 MCC stations and 2 railway platforms, as well as 4.

10 additional mobile vaccination points were placed at some metro stations, as well as near the Kryukovo railway station. There are two ambulances on duty at each point. Mobile vaccination teams are also working in institutions and organizations, in all schools, colleges and universities.

Is vaccination really safe?

Vaccines contain inactivated (“killed”) particles of influenza viruses that cannot cause illness. In recent years, not a single serious complication after vaccination has been recorded.

Who should not get the flu vaccine?

Contraindications to vaccination are allergies to chicken protein and other substances if these are components of the vaccine, fever or other signs of acute respiratory infections, exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Do I need a doctor's examination before vaccination and additional preparation?

Yes, before vaccination, the doctor examines and interviews patients to determine possible contraindications.

Will getting a flu vaccine reduce your risk of contracting coronavirus?

The flu vaccine will not protect against other diseases, including coronavirus. At the same time, such vaccination is especially important due to the spread of COVID-19. One infection can intensify another and cause more severe consequences.

Can you get the flu from a vaccine?

No, vaccination is carried out with modern, proven drugs that do not contain a live virus. Vaccination is the most effective and safe way to protect against influenza. The vaccine protects against severe complications from influenza.

When is immunity formed?

After vaccination, immunity develops within 10–15 days and lasts for a year.

Is there a chance that there will be other strains of flu this season that are different from the one I was vaccinated against?

According to WHO recommendations, a vaccine is developed every year against precisely those strains of influenza that will be widespread during a given period.

I got a flu shot last year, do I need to get it again?

The flu vaccine should be given annually.

Is vaccination free? What if I don’t have a Moscow compulsory medical insurance policy?

This is a free procedure. Anyone over 18 years of age can get vaccinated at mobile points, regardless of their place of registration. To do this, you only need a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and written consent (issued on the spot). To get vaccinated at the clinic, you will need a passport and a Moscow compulsory medical insurance policy.

How long after getting a flu shot can you get vaccinated against coronavirus and vice versa?

The interval between vaccinations should be at least a month.

Can I get a flu vaccine if I have coronavirus?

Yes, you can get a flu vaccination after you have recovered from COVID-19 and ended the self-isolation regime.

Do I need to prepare for vaccination in advance?

No.

How to vaccinate a child, is parental consent required?

A child can start getting vaccinated against influenza at the age of 6 months. Vaccination for children under 18 years of age is carried out in children's clinics, kindergartens, schools and colleges.

It was previously reported that over 1.8 million people throughout Russia received the flu vaccine. The incidence of acute respiratory infections at week 36 of 2021 was considered low.

The head of the Russian Ministry of Health, Mikhail Murashko, said that vaccination of the population has reduced the incidence of influenza and the adverse outcomes associated with it by more than 100 times. He noted that last year almost 50% of the population was vaccinated.

The vaccination campaign against influenza in Russia began on September 1. It was reported that as of August 31, more than 248 thousand people had been vaccinated against influenza.

Expert explains whether vaccines protect against diseases 100%

Doctor Komarovsky about flu vaccinations

Dr. Komarovsky advocates vaccination of children and adults. He makes the following arguments in favor of flu shots:

• the drugs are effective against viruses. Mutation and the emergence of new influenza strains are monitored by WHO-certified virology laboratories. Vaccine manufacturers develop the drug based on laboratory predictions. Scientists always assume which 3-4 strains of influenza will rage in the fall in European countries. In 20 years, they were wrong only once, indicating 3 correct types of influenza out of 4 supposed strains;
• The vaccine does not completely protect against influenza, but reduces the likelihood of a severe course of the disease to zero. The effectiveness of the vaccine is assessed not by the number of people infected, but by the number of people in whom the virus caused severe complications;
• Immunization of adults is carried out in many civilized countries as a way to protect the elderly and sick. Adults have stronger immunity than people over 65 years of age. When they are not vaccinated, they become a source of the virus for their elderly parents. Influenza is a common cause of death in the elderly and sick. A person can die from a heart attack, which was actually a complication of the flu, and not independent necrosis of the affected organ.

Precautions after vaccination

To be fully prepared, find out as much as possible about the drug you are using. Having ruled out individual intolerances and allergies, do not neglect the recommendations of doctors:

• stock up on antipyretic, painkillers, sedatives and antiallergic medications in case of an allergic reaction or other symptoms after administration of the drug;
• do not overload the liver. Avoid alcoholic drinks, spicy foods and exotic foods;
• At first, avoid large crowds of people so as not to catch the virus before you have developed immunity;
• Maintaining personal hygiene is not prohibited, but visiting the pool and taking long baths in the bathroom is not recommended. Take a shower and do not rub the injection site intensely.

How can an adult or child refuse a flu vaccine?

Vaccination is voluntary, but vaccination is mandatory. Federal Law No. 157 of September 17, 1998 leaves the right of choice to every citizen , while Federal Law No. 52 of March 30, 1999 obliges legal entities to ensure a safe sanitary and epidemiological environment in the workplace. Adults can write a written refusal to receive vaccinations for themselves and their children. No one can force you to get vaccinated, but if you refuse, be prepared for the following:

• the employer has the right to refuse employment and remove him from duties;
• sports sections, such as swimming, may not be accepted into the group without vaccination;
• Representative offices of various countries may refuse entry to children and adults who do not have a vaccination certificate.

All types of work that cannot be performed without vaccination are specified in Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 825 of July 15, 1999. According to the law, employees of educational and medical institutions, transport and public utilities are subject to immunization against influenza. The team in which all vaccinated employees work get sick less than others.

If parents wish to refuse vaccination scheduled at school or kindergarten, they need to notify the administration of the institution or the local clinic at the place of permanent registration. A refusal means that health care providers will not offer the vaccine to your child and abdicate responsibility for his or her health.

The same is required for refusing vaccination at the place of work. The form is sent to the head of the organization or institution.

In both cases, the application is made in writing, according to the established template, which includes the following information:

• personal information;
• reason and reference to regulations that legitimize the refusal;
• name of the medication you plan to stop;
• a note that the citizen fully understands the consequences of refusal and agrees with them;
• the name of the registration authority (full name of the secretary and/or head of the organization, employee of the state clinic, etc.) to which the refusal is addressed.

You can pick up an application template at a clinic, school (kindergarten), or download it from the Internet. The date of compilation and the signature of the applicant are placed at the bottom. It is advisable to keep a copy of the application for yourself after it is approved.

Where to get a flu shot in Moscow and other cities

In Russia, the flu vaccine is included in the national vaccination calendar, so you can get it for free - just go to the clinic at your place of residence. The annual mass vaccination also includes immunization of children in schools and kindergartens, and students on the territory of universities. Vaccination at home may be considered in emergency cases, for example, due to a difficult epidemic situation.

In Moscow, from September 1, 2021, mobile vaccination points began operating, which will be located near metro stations. To complete the procedure, you only need a passport and written consent.

The vaccination schedule includes one dose of vaccine each year in the fall, starting on the first of September. Children under 9 years of age who are vaccinated for the first or second time in their lives are recommended to be immunized in two stages. Vaccination schedule for them: 2 doses of vaccine with an interval of 3-4 weeks.

In the shoulder (in the deltoid muscle) - this is where the vaccine is given to adults and children. The vaccine can also be placed under the shoulder blade; there are also preparations for intranasal administration.

Flu vaccination against the background of coronavirus

Many people think that a runny nose, fever, cough and sore throat are impossible after getting a flu shot. The flu vaccine only works against influenza. It does not protect against acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and coronavirus. A vaccine against coronavirus infection is at the testing stage.

When does the vaccination season begin and end?

Flu vaccinations should begin at least 2 weeks before the start of seasonal flu infections.
Most often, the virus attacks in the fall and winter. The incidence usually peaks between December and February in the Northern Hemisphere, and between April and September in the Southern Hemisphere. In Russia, vaccination starts on September 1 and ends in November, when the influenza virus begins to lose ground. At the same time, Russian doctors recommend not waiting for the autumn increase in colds, since after the vaccine is administered, antibodies should be formed that will protect against “wild” viruses. This process takes just two weeks. Thus, the optimal time for flu vaccinations is in September-October, 3-4 weeks before the outbreak.

Increases in the incidence of influenza are sometimes observed in March and even in May. That's why doctors say the vaccination season never ends. According to the World Health Organization, vaccination can be done not only in early autumn, as a planned prevention, but also when the virus has already actively spread. Doctors do not recommend administering the vaccine long before the epidemic (in July, August): its effectiveness may decrease, especially among older people.

Vaccination is carried out only with officially approved vaccines that have proven their safety and effectiveness during trials. Even before releasing a new vaccine to the market, pharmaceutical companies receive a forecast from epidemiologists about which strains of influenza A and B viruses are the most dangerous and are most likely to cause a new epidemic. They will be included in the preparations.

Important! You need to get vaccinated against influenza every year, since influenza A and B viruses quickly mutate, and previously acquired vaccine immunity becomes useless against new strains. For more information about the strains on which influenza vaccines for the 2020-2021 season were created, read the article “Flu vaccinations in 2020-2021.”

Side effects from vaccination

The number of supporters and opponents of vaccination increases every year. Manufacturers produce a proven drug, which in most cases is easily tolerated by the body. After vaccination, a person must remain under medical supervision for half an hour. In case of a negative reaction, the drug can cause:

• temperature increase;
• hyperemia of the oropharynx;
• runny nose;
• a sore throat;
• redness and swelling at the injection site;
• muscle pain;
• allergic reaction.

Side effects disappear after 2-3 days and occur in 0.00005% of all vaccinated people.

The use of influenza vaccinations does not protect against viral disease, but it minimizes the risk of severe complications leading to irreversible consequences or death. Vaccination is effective if it was carried out before the epidemiological season.