A vaccine stimulates the immune system without causing us to become ill. A simple and effective approach will avoid various dangerous infectious diseases. We’re constantly exposed to many different viruses, bacteria and other microbes from birth. Most are not dangerous, many are helpful, but some can cause disease. The body is exposed to either a weakened microbe, microbe fragments, or something resembling the microbe during the vaccination process. When the active substances in the vaccine enter the immune system of the body, immune cells and antibodies that recognize the “true” microbe will be formed.
“The flu shot isn’t about you all the time. It’s about helping those around you who cannot defend themselves at all times. I take this vaccine because I am a Carer and I do not want to transfer this to my next client’ says Genevive Ugamah.
Influenza is a condition that is potentially serious and can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Each flu season is different and influenza illness will affect people differently, but every year millions of people get flu, hundreds of thousands are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die each year from flu-related causes. The virus infects the lungs and upper airways, causing extreme high temperature and general anxiety and pain, headache, fatigue, and exhaustion. It affects people of all ages.
If children are not immunized, they can spread disease to other children who are too young to be immunized or to people with weakened immune systems say Genevive Ugamah.
The best way to help protect against flu is to have an annual seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the four strains of flu virus recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), as the strains that are most likely to circulate each season. The flu vaccine helps produce antibodies in your immune system to fight influenza virus. If you’ve been vaccinated and come in contact with the virus, these antibodies will kill it and prevent you from getting sick.
The HSE is encouraging people in groups at risk to get the flu vaccine. People above 65 years of age, pregnant women, infants, adults with long-term medical conditions. People with; diabetes, heart disease, liver, kidney disease, cancer, chronic lung disease like COPD, or neurological diseases, down syndrome. Health care workers, farmers and travellers.
The virus may spread by coughing or sneezing, from 1-2 days before symptoms and up to 5 days after symptoms develop. To be safe for flu season, you should get your flu vaccination from early October.
Globally, millions of people, including pregnant women, have received flu vaccines for more than 60 years. Reactions are generally mild, and there are occasional serious side effects.
“The reaction is tolerable in most cases,” says Dr. Reddy.
The most common side effects are mild, and there may be soreness, redness or swelling where the injection was administered. There may be headaches, nausea, aches and exhaustion. Such side effects don’t mean you have flu. If you have had a serious allergic (anaphylaxis) reaction to an earlier dose or any portion of the vaccine, you should not get the flu vaccine. If you are taking drugs called combination checkpoint inhibitors (e.g. ipilimumab + nivolumab) do not seek the flu vaccine, vaccination should be re-scheduled if you have an acute disease with a temperature above 38 ° C.
Both children aged 6 months and older and adults require a full dose of Sanofi Pasteur Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine (split virion, inactivated) (0.5ml). Adults in an at-risk group including pregnant women and children 10 years of age or older that receive the flu vaccine from either a GP or a pharmacist. Infants can get their GP flu vaccine. For those with a GP visit card medical, the vaccination and consultation are free. The vaccination is free for those without a medical card but may be paid for a consultation fee. Departments of occupational health and community vaccinators provide the vaccine to health care workers.
For more information about the seasonal flu read more on check Facts about Flu.
Elohor's Blog 