The seasonal flu vaccine: everything you need to know

The WHO, the World Health Organization, defines seasonal flu as an acute viral infection caused by a flu virus and which is easily spread from one person to another as flu viruses circulate throughout the world. The flu as we can see is a serious public health disease that can cause death among the population called high risk.

exist three types of seasonal flu A, B, C, the cases of seasonal flu of type C, however type A and B viruses are the most frequent, hence the seasonal influenza vaccines contain type A and B viruses.

The objectives of the seasonal influenza vaccine are a priority since this vaccine is intended to prevent the population of infections as well as to avoid that the seasonal influenza can reach to expand reaching alarming figures until considering an epidemic.

An epidemic is considered when the flu reaches a fairly high number of the population, in the same area or territory to the point of being higher than what was even expected.

So much so that when the situation does not come to be controlled and contagions reach other geographical areas, countries and cross borders it would be an even more alarming case known as Pandemia.

How to prevent seasonal flu

Seasonal flu spreads and transmits both easily and quickly from droplets that infected people expel when coughing or sneezing as well as from infected hands.

That is why all the recommendations about prevention are important to know them as well as to carry them out being the most effective measure of prevention vaccination.

You may wonder in addition to the vaccination that other measures we must take to prevent it.

Below we provide preventive measures:

  • All the hygiene measures are important both the corporal ones and those of the home.
  • Daily body shower and frequent washing of hands with soap and water.
  • Areas of the house, clean and ventilated as well as furniture and utensils.
  • When coughing or sneezing you have to cover your mouth and nose with a tissue.
  • Use tissues and discard the fabric ones.

When to get vaccinated from seasonal flu

The vaccination campaign for seasonal flu usually begins in October and November when it is usually assumed that the virus begins to circulate and is usually made public through the media.

Seasonal flu can seriously affect any person or any age group and generally runs without complications reaching a week and sometimes without attending medical consultation.

Normally the flu usually has the symptoms that we detail below.

  • High fever suddenly.
  • Lack of energy.
  • Headaches.
  • Sore throat.
  • Muscle and joint pains.
  • Lack of appetite and general malaise.
  • Mucus.
  • Dry cough.

As we have said before, the disease can become serious or fatal when it affects the group of people who are in the group called high risk.

The high-risk population includes:

  • Over 65 years old.
  • Children under 2 years old.
  • The pregnant women.
  • People with chronic diseases
  • Heart disease.
  • Lung diseases.
  • Kidney diseases
  • Liver diseases.
  • Severe neuromuscular diseases.
  • Diabetes.
  • Immunosuppressive diseases.
  • Group of health professionals.
  • Group of Education professionals (teaching centers and nurseries).
  • Group of professionals in the public transport sector.

Types of vaccine for seasonal flu and contraindications

Currently in Spain there are different types of vaccines that are safe against seasonal flu that is administered once a year and intramuscularly. These vaccines are trivalent which means that they contain two types of virus A and one type of virus B.

These viruses can not develop the disease but they do stimulate defenses against seasonal flu.

These vaccines are usually well tolerated although in some cases they can give rise to local reactions that usually disappear in less than 48 hours as stinging or pain in the area of ​​injection, swelling, redness.

Sometimes other side effects can occur such as moderate fever, headache, malaise or muscle aches that usually last one or two days.

Group of people for whom the vaccine is contraindicated

  • People who are allergic to the egg or to any of the components of the vaccine such as antibiotics.
  • People who previously presented a severe allergic reaction to a previous flu vaccination.
  • Children under 6 months.
  • In case of acute illness that develops with high fever.
This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician.We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesFlu

Flu Season Prediction and Preparation HD (March 2024)