Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus . It is highly contagious and mainly transmitted through air droplets, which is generally susceptible to people. According to estimates from the World Health Organization and the Global Seasonal Influenza-related Mortality Research Collaborative Network, 5% to 10% of adults and 20% to 30% of children worldwide suffer from influenza each year. The World Health Organization and authoritative agencies of various countries believe that getting influenza vaccination every year is the most effective way to prevent influenza. A large number of global studies and long-term vaccination practices have shown that influenza vaccination can significantly reduce the risk of influenza and flu-related complications in the recipients, and can also reduce the risk of influenza transmission to others. Antibodies will appear one week after receiving the influenza vaccine. After two weeks, the immune antibodies can reach the highest level and generally can be protected for 1 year.
Where does each flu vaccine we receive come from?
Why do you have to get the flu vaccine every year? Where can I get the
vaccine?
Now is the best time to get influenza vaccine. We invite experts from the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention to answer several hot questions about influenza vaccines.
When will the flu come?
Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Currently, monitoring data shows that the influenza virus activity in Beijing is low and is at the non-epidemic level of influenza. As the weather gradually turns cooler, according to previous monitoring data, Beijing is about to enter the flu epidemic period, and it is predicted that the risk of concentrated fever in schools and childcare institutions will increase.
What are the dangers of influenza?
Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
The clinical manifestations of influenza are fever, headache, soreness and weakness all over the body, and fear of cold; they are often accompanied by respiratory symptoms, such as runny nose and dry cough. Influenza may also cause diarrhea and vomiting. Severe cases may have extrapulmonary symptoms such as viral pneumonia , secondary bacterial pneumonia , acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock , diffuse intravascular coagulation, heart and nervous system , and various complications, and even death.
Influenza is higher than common cold , the body temperature is higher, the duration is longer, the systemic symptoms are worse, and the complications and mortality rate are also higher. Children under 5 years old, the elderly, and those suffering from chronic diseases or weak constitutions are more likely to experience serious complications.
For students:
Children are young, have relatively low immune function, and are more likely to be infected with influenza virus than adults. Children suffering from influenza may easily induce a variety of serious complications, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, myocarditis, , encephalitis, otitis media, etc., and it is relatively hidden, especially in infants and young children, and it may leave sequelae if not treated in time.
For students and parents, influenza mainly has the following effects: First, in places with dense crowds, it is more likely to cause the spread of influenza. Second, once you get influenza, it will cause various health problems. Third, it affects learning and cannot attend classes normally, especially the flu epidemic season will catch up with the final review exam. Fourth, if a clustered fever occurs in the class, many students will not be able to attend classes and the class may be suspended. Fifth, children suffering from influenza need to rest at home, and parents need to take leave to take care of their children at home.
For the elderly:
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention Lu Min: During the flu epidemic season, people have the possibility of influenza infection, but the elderly are more likely to experience severe illness or even death after they are infected with the flu.
aggravates chronic underlying diseases
Many elderly people suffer from chronic underlying diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, hypertension, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease or tumors to varying degrees. Influenza can easily induce and aggravate the symptoms and conditions of these chronic underlying diseases.
is more likely to have severe influenza
Mild symptoms influenza is often similar to the common cold, but the fever and systemic symptoms of influenza are more obvious. Because the elderly have low immunity, they are more likely to experience severe flu.Usually, severe cases of influenza can have a series of serious complications such as viral pneumonia, heart and nervous system damage, pneumonia caused by secondary bacterial pneumonia and other pathogens, acute respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory failure, shock, diffuse intravascular coagulation, myocarditis, multi-organ failure, and other serious complications, which can even lead to death.
is easier to be hospitalized
The elderly often have severe symptoms of influenza, and it is easier to be hospitalized when suffering from influenza. Data show that children under 15 years old and elderly people over 75 years old have the highest excess hospitalization rate due to influenza and its related complications (including acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, cerebrovascular disease, and ischemic heart disease). The direct medical expenses for influenza hospitalized in urban areas are as high as more than 10,000 yuan.
increases the risk of death
Compared with other populations, the elderly have the highest risk of influenza-related death. The excess mortality rate of influenza-related respiratory and circulatory diseases in northern my country reaches 124/100,000 per year, but the vast majority (more than 90%) of these deaths occur among the elderly over 65 years old. According to Beijing research data, from 2007 to 2013, the average flu-related excess mortality rate of elderly people over 65 years old in Beijing was 30 times that of other groups, reaching 105/100,000. Is the
influenza vaccine safe?
Immunization Prevention Institute of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention Lu Min: Everyone is very concerned about the safety of influenza vaccines. Now the influenza vaccines used in Beijing are all uniformly formulated and purchased through cold chain logistics, and distributed to various outpatient clinics. Especially during the cold chain management process, each vaccine follows strict preservation requirements and standardized operations, thus ensuring the safety of vaccine source, transportation and use. From 2007 to the present, the free influenza vaccination project has accumulated 111,700 html vaccination of 120,000 html for the elderly and primary and secondary school students. We have expanded our services from infants and young children to young and middle-aged people and the elderly, achieving full life cycle vaccination services. How many influenza vaccines are there?
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention Lu Min: In terms of the antigen components contained in the vaccine (i.e., the active ingredient), there are two types of influenza vaccines this year: trivalent vaccine and tetravalent vaccine. The trivalent vaccine contains three antigens, which can prevent infection with the three influenza viruses, H1N1, H3N2 and BV. The tetravalent vaccine contains 4 antigens. In addition to preventing the first three viruses, it can also prevent BY influenza virus.
Which influenza vaccine is better?
Immunization Prevention Institute of Beijing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Lu Min: The World Health Organization and The guiding documents released by the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not specifically recommend which vaccine is more effective, but rather believe that both vaccines have certain protective effects.
When is the right time to get the flu vaccine?
Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention Lu Min: There is a principle for to choose vaccination, which is to complete vaccination before natural infection occurs. The flu epidemic in Beijing generally reaches its peak from October to March of the following year, and from December to January of the following year. It will take about two weeks to produce antibodies after getting the vaccine, so it is just right now, not too early. In the "Global Influenza Strategy for 2019-2030" released this year, the World Health Organization specifically pointed out that "eliminating influenza vaccination every year" is the most effective way to prevent influenza. The city's free influenza vaccination ends on November 30, and the self-paid ones usually last until February of the following year. Eligible elderly people over 60 years old and primary and secondary school students are requested to take the initiative to get influenza vaccination to prevent influenza. Where can I get the influenza vaccine for
?
Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention: In order to facilitate vaccination for the general public, Beijing has set up 432 free influenza vaccination sites and 433 self-paid influenza vaccination sites. From September 10, various preparations for vaccine distribution and vaccination have been launched, and free vaccination will be implemented for primary and secondary school students in schools from September 16. Currently, schools are being vaccinated for free.
If you need to check the address of the influenza vaccination clinic, you can check the website of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission or the Beijing Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention online, and follow to the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention WeChat official account. After obtaining the consent of the student’s parents, students can receive centralized vaccination at school. Students who need vaccination should arrange vaccination as soon as possible.
What should I pay attention to before and after vaccination?
Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
Before vaccination:
1. The informed consent form for influenza vaccination should be carefully read and the contraindications for influenza vaccine should be understood.
2. Patients suffering from chronic diseases should consult the doctor about whether their condition is stable and whether the drugs taken have an impact on the body's immune function.
3. Rest well and keep your body in a better physiological state.
4. Go to the relevant official website to learn about the distribution location and related information of the vaccination clinic, and get vaccinated nearby.
When inoculating:
1. Avoid empty stomach.
2. After careful reading, fill in the informed consent form truthfully.
3. After the vaccination is completed, you need to stay at the vaccination site for 30 minutes.
After inoculation:
1. Keep the inoculation site clean and dry.
2. Pay attention to rest and eat lightly.
3. Strong exercise is not recommended.
4. Pay attention to the child's physical condition within one day after vaccination. If there are abnormal phenomena such as continuous fever, you can consult and report to the vaccinated doctor, and go to the hospital for medical treatment if necessary. How can the elderly and children benefit from the flu vaccine after getting vaccinated?
For students:
Pang Xinghuo, deputy director of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
In 2007, Beijing City invested by government to receive free influenza vaccine for primary and secondary school students in school. Influenza vaccination has achieved good social benefits. After years of research in Beijing, it has been found that in the season when the vaccine strain matches the epidemic strain, large-scale centralized vaccination of influenza vaccines in Beijing can reduce the risk of concentrated influenza fever in primary and secondary schools by 85%. Schools with influenza vaccination rates of ≥50% have a 60% to 70% lower probability of influenza fever outbreaks than schools with vaccination rates below 50%. In the case where the influenza vaccine strain matches the epidemic strain, the risk of influenza virus infection in individuals vaccinated can be reduced by 50%.
For the elderly:
Immunization Prevention Institute of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention Lu Min:
Influenza vaccine is safe and effective. Influenza vaccination for the elderly can effectively reduce the occurrence of influenza infections and related complications, and reduce influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths. The flu vaccine protects against influenza infections in the elderly by about 50%, which can reduce pneumonia hospitalizations and 48% of deaths in the elderly by 27%.
Beijing provides free influenza vaccination services for elderly people over 60 years old in this city. For elderly friends with the city's resident identity certificate/social security card and over 60 years old (date of birth before December 31, 1959), please bring a valid ID card to the nearby community health service center before November 30 to get the flu vaccine for free.
In 2018, Beijing launched a project to receive free Streptococcus pneumonia vaccine for the elderly over 65 years old, and it is recommended that the elderly over 65 years old can receive influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine at the same time.
article: Deputy Director of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention Pang Xinghuo
Immunization Prevention Institute of Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention Lv Min
Editor: Guan Zhongyao
Review: Cao Zheng
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