How to get the flu vaccine this year？

Vaccination against influenza is "very useful"

Influenza, referred to as "flu" for short, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus.

The incidence of influenza is high, the whole population is generally susceptible and highly contagious.

It is mainly transmitted by respiratory droplets such as sneezing and coughing of patients, and can also be transmitted by touching mucous membranes such as oral cavity, nasal cavity and eyes of patients. Contact with items contaminated by viruses can also cause infection.

According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, influenza can cause 3 million to 5 million severe cases and 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory diseases-related deaths every year. Children under 5 years old, elderly people over 60 years old, patients with chronic diseases, pregnant women, etc. are high-risk groups of severe illness and death.

Vaccination with influenza vaccine is the most effective means to prevent seasonal influenza, which can effectively reduce the risk of serious complications.

Five questions and five answers to influenza vaccination

1. When should I get the flu vaccine?

There are two epidemic peaks of influenza in Guangdong province, winter, spring and summer, and it usually takes about 2~4 weeks to produce protective effect after influenza vaccination, so it is recommended to complete immunization before the epidemic peak.

According to the Technical Guidelines for Influenza Vaccination in China (2023-2024) issued by China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is suggested that vaccination should be completed before the end of October.

If the vaccination cannot be completed before the arrival of the influenza epidemic season, it can also be vaccinated throughout the epidemic season.

2. Who is recommended to get the flu vaccine?

All ≥ People who are 6 months old and have no contraindications should be vaccinated against influenza.

Priority is given to the following key and high-risk populations for timely vaccination — —

1. Medical personnel; 2. Older people aged 60 and over; 3. People suffering from one or more chronic diseases; 4. Vulnerable people and employees in gathering places such as old-age care institutions, long-term care institutions and welfare homes; 5. Pregnant women; 6. Children aged 6-59 months; 7. Family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months old; 8. People in key places such as kindergartens, primary and secondary schools and supervision places.

3. How to choose a vaccine?

According to the virus types covered by influenza vaccine, there are trivalent and tetravalent influenza vaccines, where "valence" refers to the number of virus types and subtypes covered in the vaccine.

Citizens and friends can voluntarily vaccinate one of the influenza vaccines according to the types of influenza vaccines provided locally. There is no priority recommendation for all kinds.

Influenza vaccines approved for marketing in China include trivalent inactivated vaccine (IIV3), trivalent attenuated live vaccine (LAIV3) and tetravalent inactivated vaccine (IIV4). Among them:

Trivalent inactivated vaccine can be used for ≥ Vaccination for people aged 6 months;

The trivalent live attenuated vaccine can be used for people aged 3~17;

Tetravalent inactivated vaccine can be used for ≥ Vaccination for 6-month-old people.

4. Is the flu vaccine vaccinated every year?

Influenza viruses mutate rapidly and change almost every year. The World Health Organization closely tracks the variation of influenza virus, and regularly publishes the strains used for vaccine manufacture every year.

Every year, the formula of the corresponding influenza vaccine strains also changes, and they are all developed for the epidemic strains of that year.

5. Where should I go for vaccination?

Pay attention to "Shenzhen Health and Health Commission", "Shenwei Online" and "Shenzhen CDC" WeChat WeChat official account, find the "Vaccination" option in the menu bar, and make an appointment for vaccination service as needed.

Original title: How to fight this year’s flu vaccine?

Original link: https://www.baoan.gov.cn/bawjj/gkmlpt/content/12/12004/post _ 12004051.html # 24484.