Influenza virus is the source of pneumonia infections, which can be fatal for the risk group, apart from major global events such as the Spanish Flu Pandemic in 1918, which resulted in 20-40 million deaths. Since influenza Ave B virus is transmitted by droplets, it quickly causes seasonal epidemics.
The disease affects all age groups. However, people in the risk group may experience the disease more severely than other people with serious conditions such as pneumonia, bronchitis, sinusitis, otitis.
The influenza virus is in a constant state of change. Therefore, the virus types that made an epidemic a year ago are determined and published by WHO and vaccines are produced accordingly. Therefore, influenza vaccine contents change every year. The effectiveness of the vaccines recommended to be administered in October and November every year lasts an average of 6-8 months and is limited to the year applied.
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Who are the risk groups for the influenza vaccine?
- Children under 2 years old,
- Persons aged 65 and over,
- Those who are between 6 months and 18 years old and need to use aspirin for a long time,
- Those with any metabolic disease, including diabetes,
- Those with chronic respiratory disease, including asthma,
- Those with chronic kidney disease,
- Those with chronic cardiovascular disease,
- People with suppressed immune system (chronic blood diseases, cancer patients, people using immunosuppressive drugs, HIV/AIDS patients),
- Nursing home, nursing home, etc. those living in the environment
- Health workers,
- Those who are overweight,
- They are pregnant.
How is the influenza vaccine administered?
In particular, trivalent inactivated and live vaccines containing influenza A and B strains are in use. There is also a nasal quadrivalent vaccine available since 2012. Only trivalent inactivated vaccine can be used in under 2 years old, over 50 years old and pregnant women.
What are the possible side effects after the influenza vaccine?
Redness, pain, fever, weakness, drowsiness may be seen at the injection site. Rarely, it carries the risk of anaphylaxis.
Who should not be given the influenza vaccine?
It is not applied to those who have developed a severe allergic reaction at previous doses. It is not applied until the picture heals in diseases progressing with high fever. Inactivated vaccines can be administered to pregnant women, protecting both the baby and the mother. Live vaccines are not used.
How is the influenza vaccine stored?
Subvirion: Stored at 2-8°C, not frozen.
Live attenuated vaccine: It can be stored at -15°C and below, provided that it is consumed before 60 hours, it can be kept at 2-8°C, but it is not frozen again.
Protect from direct sunlight.