Some experts said that the risk of the new crown epidemic in my country increased from winter to spring next year. At present, influenza vaccination has been launched in many places across the country, and some regions have carried out free influenza vaccination for key groups.

China News Service, Beijing, September 27 (Wei Xianghui) As the weather turns cooler, the high incidence season for influenza has arrived. Some experts said that the risk of new crown superimposed on the flu epidemic in my country has increased from winter to spring next year. At present, influenza vaccination has been launched in many places across the country, and some regions have carried out free influenza vaccination for key groups.

Data picture: The elderly are vaccinated with influenza vaccine. Ge Mengli photographed

Influenza is not a common cold, and there is a vaccine to prevent

"Influenza is definitely not a common cold. Influenza is caused by influenza viruses, with a mortality rate of one to two thousand. Common cold is a respiratory symptom caused by multiple respiratory virus infections."

Li Tong was the deputy chief physician of the Comprehensive Infection Department of Beijing You'an Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University. He introduced to China News Service that flu symptoms are generally more serious than cold symptoms, but there are vaccines that can be prevented and antiviral drugs can be used.

At the 2022 World Influenza Conference held not long ago, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering , Deputy Director of the National Bureau of Disease Prevention and Control Shen Hongbing said that the autumn and winter of 2022 are approaching, and the northern hemisphere is about to enter the high-influenza season. The risk of respiratory infectious diseases such as new crown and influenza will increase significantly in the winter and next spring this winter.

"There may be an unusual influenza epidemic pattern worldwide. It is not clear how long it will take to rebuild the normal seasonal epidemic pattern. It is expected that in the next epidemic season, the flu epidemic will have an enhanced trend." Chinese Preventive Medicine Association Secretary-General Feng Zijian emphasized that the influenza situation in 2022 and 2023 may be more serious than before, and it is urgent to get influenza vaccination.

Feng Zijian mentioned that the immune protection of influenza vaccines will gradually weaken over time, so it is best to get influenza vaccine immediately before the influenza epidemic. In the three months before the peak of influenza in December this year, that is, from September to November, we must speed up the influenza vaccination work.

Li Tong once said that in addition to getting vaccinated, everyone should also pay attention to wearing masks, washing hands frequently, maintaining social distance, etc.

Data picture Zhou Yi

18 and above can receive two vaccines at the same time

Li Dongzeng told China News Service that the two major categories of key groups should pay attention to preventing influenza. One type is the group of people at high risk of severe illness after infection, such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, people with underlying diseases and obese people; the other type is the group of people at risk of infection, especially nursing home staff and hospital medical staff.

For people who are willing to receive influenza vaccination, he suggests that time should be reserved.

Regarding the number of doses, for inactivated influenza vaccine, children aged 6 months to 8 years old who receive influenza vaccine for the first time should be vaccinated 2 doses, with an interval of ≥4 weeks; children who have received one dose or more influenza vaccine in 2021-2022 or before are recommended to receive one dose; children aged 9 and above and adults only need to receive one dose. For live attenuated influenza vaccine, only 1 dose will be given regardless of whether or not you have received the influenza vaccine.

Data picture: Nasal jet influenza vaccination. Photo by Tao Shuanke

More than the land are free influenza vaccinated for key groups. It is understood that since September, cities such as Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Shaoxing , Xinxiang have launched free influenza vaccination plans for the elderly, but the age range is different. Some regulations are over 60 years old, and some regulations are also 65 years old or over 70 years old.

In January 2022, the National Health Commission website released a reply to the NPC deputies' "Suggestions on Vaccinating Influenza and Pneumonia Vaccines for People Aged 60 for Free". It mentioned that in 2019, the Healthy China Action Promotion Committee formulated and issued the "Healthy China Action (2019-2030)", which encouraged areas with conditions to receive free influenza vaccination for elderly people aged 60 and above, children in childcare institutions, primary and secondary school students and secondary vocational schools.

The "National Influenza Prevention and Control Plan" (2020 Edition) encourages local governments to study and formulate free influenza vaccination policies based on actual conditions, and effectively reduce vaccination costs by adopting various forms such as free vaccination, inclusion of medical insurance, and government subsidies.

At present, many places such as Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Karamay have successively issued policies, which clearly stipulate that financial support will vaccinate children and the elderly for free, and financial support policies in other regions are also gradually advancing.

This year, Beijing will fully launch influenza vaccination from September 13. In addition to those over 60 years old, all students of all primary and secondary schools in Beijing and emergency support personnel (including front-line personnel in the prevention and control of the new crown pneumonia epidemic) can also receive influenza vaccine for free. (End)

( China News Network )