How to get the flu vaccine in autumn and winter
The global new crown pneumonia epidemic is still spreading. Autumn and winter are the seasons for high incidence of respiratory diseases. Lower temperatures are conducive to the survival and spread of the virus. There is a risk of overlapping epidemics of the new crown pneumonia epidemic and influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases this autumn and winter.
Is it necessary to get a flu vaccine?
Will the flu vaccine conflict with the new crown vaccine?
Who needs flu vaccine most?
A few days ago, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued the "Technical Guidelines for Influenza Vaccination in China (2020-2021)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guide"), and proposed 2020-2021 influenza vaccination recommendations.
Experts suggest that the public can be vaccinated in time for influenza vaccine before the new crown vaccine is officially marketed through safety verification.
Flu vaccine is necessary
In my country, especially in the northern regions, the influenza epidemic season is from October to March of the following year.
Experts from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza. It can significantly reduce the risk of influenza and serious complications for vaccinators. The public can choose to vaccinate before the flu season.
Influenza viruses mutate rapidly and change almost every year.
The human body's immunity to influenza virus or influenza vaccination will also decline over time due to factors such as age, physical condition, and vaccine antigens.
Evidence from clinical trials suggests that the protective effect of inactivated influenza vaccine on antigen-similar strains can be maintained for 6 to 8 months, and serum antibody levels are significantly reduced one year after vaccination.
In order to match the constantly mutating influenza virus, the influenza vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization in most seasons will update one or more strains.
The “Guide” points out that in order to ensure the maximum protection of the vaccinated population, even if the composition of the flu vaccine is exactly the same as the previous season, given that the antibody titer of most vaccinators has dropped significantly, it is still recommended regardless of whether the flu vaccine was vaccinated in the previous season. Vaccine before the flu season that year.
Feng Zijian, deputy director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that my country's influenza vaccine production is very mature and its safety is guaranteed. Influenza vaccination is the most effective and economical way to prevent influenza.
The flu vaccine and the new crown vaccine will not conflict
In the normalized epidemic prevention and control, if people with symptoms such as fever, cough, etc. will be tested, reported, investigated, and quarantined at the first time according to suspected cases of new coronary pneumonia and close contacts, measures that have been formed will be The high-efficiency and sensitive monitoring response system causes interference, and also causes fatigue and relaxation of prevention and control personnel and the public.
Influenza vaccination can effectively reduce interference in the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic.
The "Guide" shows that the common incubation period of influenza is 1 to 4 days, an average of two days, and can cause seasonal epidemics every year. The "New Coronavirus Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Plan (Trial Eighth Edition)" previously issued by the National Health Commission pointed out that the new crown The incubation period of pneumonia is 1 to 14 days, mostly 3 to 7 days, with fever, dry cough, and fatigue as the main symptoms.
Both are infectious during the incubation period, and clinical manifestations are difficult to distinguish.
The "Guide" points out that influenza vaccination is an effective means to prevent influenza, which can reduce the harm caused by influenza-related diseases and the occupation of medical resources.
Feng Zijian believes that if new coronary pneumonia and influenza occur at the same time in the country, it will pose great challenges and pressures to the differential diagnosis, infection protection, patient management and medical admission capabilities of clinical patients, and we need to be prepared for prevention.
As the epidemic is still in the stage of large-scale and widespread spread around the world, it should not be taken carelessly. It is recommended and recommended that key personnel complete influenza vaccination before winter.
Wu Guizhen, chief expert on biosafety at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said that the flu vaccine and the new crown vaccine will not conflict, and the two can be used at the same time.
Wu Guizhen believes that if you can avoid the flu after getting the flu vaccine, it will be easier to maintain your health, and you can avoid symptoms such as fever due to flu.
Under the current background of global prevention and control of new coronary pneumonia, it can reduce the chance of visiting a fever clinic, which is not only beneficial to individuals, but also reduces the impact on medical institutions.
The "Guide" suggests that inactivated influenza vaccines can be vaccinated at different sites at the same time as other inactivated vaccines and live attenuated vaccines such as pneumococcal vaccines, but after vaccination with live attenuated influenza vaccine, there must be an interval of more than 28 days before vaccination. Live attenuated vaccine.
Elderly people over 65 can receive flu vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine at the same time.
These people need vaccination most
The "Guide" points out that the entire population is generally susceptible to influenza, and influenza vaccines are safe and effective.
Taking into account the background of the continued global epidemic of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the "Guide" recommends that key and high-risk groups be vaccinated in order of priority: one is medical personnel, including clinical rescuers, public health personnel, health and quarantine personnel, etc.; the other is elderly care institutions , Long-term care institutions, welfare homes and other places where people gather for vulnerable groups and employees; third, people in key places, such as teachers and students in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, detainees and staff in prison institutions, etc.; At-risk groups include elderly people aged 60 and above, children from 6 months to 5 years old, patients with chronic diseases, family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months of age, and women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the flu season.
People older than 6 months old and without contraindications can get influenza vaccine.
It is reported that in the autumn and winter of this year, 9 manufacturers in my country, including Beijing Kexing Biological Products Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Sanofi Pasteur Biological Products Co., Ltd., supply influenza vaccines. The public can go to professional institutions to vaccinate.
(Our newspaper, Beijing, September 20th, by our reporter Zhang Yaxiong)