Flu season! Pediatricians: When is the best time to get the flu vaccine? What are the side effects?

No matter what season, the flu virus will come out to make trouble. Especially the autumn and winter seasons are the high incidence period of influenza, so we should be prepared to fight the flu when we enter the autumn.

News Review

1 Australia suffered the strongest flu in 15 years

Following the ravages of the Hong Kong flu, Australia has also been hit by the flu recently, and the epidemic is serious. According to media reports, Australia has had an outbreak of influenza since July, and it is reported that this is the worst flu in Australia in 15 years. The number of people getting the flu is increasing day by day, and it has been skyrocketing. Hospitals are full of patients, and outpatient clinics are full every day.

2 Vaccination is effective Brazil's flu cases drop by 80% a year

Data released by the Brazilian Ministry of Health show that this year's influenza cases in Brazil have decreased by 81% compared with the same period last year. Brazil's health minister said the drop in flu cases was mainly due to an increase in the number of people vaccinated. "When the incidence is low, people are less vigilant about the virus. But with the severity of the flu epidemic, the number of people who are vaccinated has increased significantly, and the vaccine is crucial to prevent the flu.

Flu in all regions of the world The virus is fierce, and the degree of harm caused by the outbreak is shocking. So for children with weak resistance, what should they do in the face of the virus? A suitable vaccine can produce 60%-90% protection rate and effectively prevent influenza. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers vaccinate their children against influenza to prevent the damage from influenza to their health.

Q2. Is the flu vaccine suitable for babies of all ages ?

0-6 month old baby:

does not recommend getting the flu vaccine, and a "family flu prevention and control circle" needs to be established.

Babies in this age group are the highest-risk group with the weakest resistance and the most easily infected. It is easy to turn into pneumonia, and some medicines for the treatment of influenza cannot be used, used with caution or resistant to these babies, so the treatment is difficult and life-threatening. "Concept: Family members (especially nursing mothers) with children under the age of 5, including nursing staff, should be vaccinated against influenza to form a protective barrier for children at home.

6 months-3 years old baby:

Suggestions Influenza vaccine needs to be vaccinated once a year.

Because the influenza virus is a highly mutated pathogen, the epidemic type will be different every year, and the influenza vaccine can only provide immunity for one year, so it needs to be vaccinated once a year .Because the flu vaccine is not a planned vaccine, the mother can choose to vaccinate the baby or not. However, if the baby has more contact with the outside world, it is recommended to get vaccinated. At present, some areas are free for the flu vaccine.

Note: Influenza vaccine is not Foolproof

In other words, because there are so many flu viruses, one vaccine won't protect you from all strains. However, even if the vaccine doesn't match the flu virus you get, studies have found that the vaccine can still provide some protection .After getting the flu vaccine, even if you get the flu, it will not be as severe as if you had not been vaccinated.

Influenza vaccine is highly recommended for:

• Children 6 months - 3 years old, or people over 50 years old Children taking aspirin

• Pregnant women (consult an obstetrician first)

• People with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart, kidney or lung disease)

• Low immune systems People under

• People who live in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities

• Child care workers or health care workers, who live with or care for people with high-risk flu complications

The flu vaccine is not recommended for :

• People who have had an allergic reaction to vaccines in the past

•Those who are allergic to eggs

• Those who are having a fever, get vaccinated after symptoms improve

Q3. What is the best time to inoculate the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is usually available in October and can be given as early as September. Since the components of the strains contained in the vaccine vary due to different predominant strains, the influenza vaccine of the current year needs to be vaccinated every year. The "Guiding Opinions on Influenza Vaccine Vaccination in China" proposes that vaccinating influenza vaccine 1-2 months before the peak of the influenza epidemic can more effectively exert the protective effect of the vaccine.

The best time to get the flu shot is before the start of the flu season each year. Therefore, 9-November is the best time to inoculate . Of course, vaccination after the onset of an influenza epidemic also has a preventive effect.

Q4. After getting the flu vaccine, will you not catch a cold?

not necessarily. After getting the flu vaccine, the body is only immune to several flu viruses that were circulating that year. Other unprepared influenza viruses, non-influenza viruses, and other pathogens (including bacteria, mycoplasma, etc.) can still cause colds.

Q5. I had the flu in the past, do I still need to get vaccinated?

yes. It's best to get the flu shot every year, because even if you've had the flu that year, you still don't have immunity to other kinds of flu viruses.

Q6. Influenza vaccines mutate fast. Are the vaccines injected now the type of virus that is currently popular?

yes. Each year's vaccine is developed against the circulating influenza strains of that year, so it is only valid for that year.

Q7. What are the side effects of getting the flu vaccine?

Usually flu vaccines have few side effects, and even if there are, the reaction is relatively weak, and it will go away on its own after a few days. Common side effects are: headache, fever, muscle pain, nausea, etc.

Q8. Can babies with protein allergies be vaccinated against influenza?

can. The flu shot contains very small amounts of egg protein, but numerous studies have shown that babies with egg allergies do not need special handling when receiving the flu shot. The incidence of allergies is no different from the incidence in the general population, about one in a million.