Skip to main content

Influenza Vaccine, Recognize the Benefits to Side Effects

Influenza vaccine is the best protection against flu, especially during the transition season that is susceptible to causing flu. Although it sounds like a mild illness, in fact influenza can cause major problems for some people. Influenza is an acute and contagious viral infection that attacks the respiratory tract. There are two subtypes of influenza virus namely subtype A and B. This virus spreads through the air and physical contact such as shaking hands with people with flu. If left untreated, this disease can trigger a recurrence of concomitant diseases such as asthma, or secondary infections due to bacteria. Complications due to flu are more at risk in the elderly, pregnant women, children aged 6 months to 5 years, medical workers, and sufferers of certain diseases, such as HIV / AIDS, chronic heart or lung disease, and asthma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the incidence of influenza reaches 5 million cases per year and the death rate from this disease reaches 500,000 cases. The highest mortality rate in children under 5 years old due to this disease is caused by a lung infection. Symptoms of influenza can include fever, chills, sore throat, cough, runny nose, weakness, muscle aches, and headaches. Influenza infection can have a different effect on everyone. Although healthy, a person can catch a cold and transmit it to others. Symptoms can be mild but can also be severe that require treatment in hospital. And influenza vaccine is very useful to minimize the risk of colds and transmission. The Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI) recommends influenza vaccines be given to infants aged 6 months and over, except for those who have reasons or medical conditions that are not allowed to receive this vaccine.

Types of Influenza Vaccine You Need to Know

There are two types of influenza vaccines, namely trivalent and quadrivalent. Trivalent influenza vaccine is a vaccine containing two strains of influenza A virus (H1N1 and H3N2), as well as influenza B. strains and quadrivalent influenza vaccine contains two strains of influenza A virus (H1N1 and H3N2), and two strains of influenza virus B. The trivalent influenza vaccine includes:
  • Trivalent standard doses (IIV3) produced using viruses implanted in eggs. This vaccine is given by injection procedure, but can also be used by jet injectors for adults aged 18 to 64 years.
  • High trivalent high doses specifically for older people (over 65 years).
  • Injectable trivalent infleunza vaccine made with additional ingredients can be given for people aged 65 years and over.
  • Trivalent combination injections that are free of eggs are approved to be given to people aged 18 years and over.
Meanwhile, the quadrivalent influenza vaccine includes:
  • Quadrivalent flu shots are given for certain age groups.
  • Intradermal quadrivalent injections (which are injected into the skin rather than the muscles and using smaller needles) are for people aged 18 to 64 years.
  • Quadrivalent injections contain viruses that grow in cell culture intended for children 4 years and older.
Live influenza vaccine is available in dosage forms given through nasal sprays, and can be given to healthy people aged 2 to 49 years. Influenza vaccine works by building antibodies in a person's body to fight influenza viruses. Influenza vaccine takes about two weeks to work creating antibodies in a person's body. In cold climates, the flu season occurs between December and February. To be effective, the influenza vaccine is recommended to be given before December, it can be given in November or October. While in tropical countries like Indonesia, flu outbreaks can occur at any time. It is therefore important to get an influenza vaccine to prevent this disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends influenza vaccines for:
  • Children aged 6 months to 5 years.
  • Elderly people (over 65 years).
  • Pregnant women.
  • Patients with chronic diseases.
  • Medical worker.
For effective and safe use of the influenza vaccine, it is recommended that you consult a doctor before vaccinating. Especially if you have experienced an allergic reaction to influenza vaccine before or have experienced Guillain-Barre syndrome that occurs after receiving influenza vaccine.

Influenza Vaccine Side Effects

There are various side effects that can be caused related to influenza vaccine. Common side effects include:
  • Pain, redness and swelling in the area injected.
  • Fever.
  • Nausea.
  • Difficul
  • ty breathing.
  • Hoarseness.
  • Swelling around the eyes or lips.
  • Tired, dizzy, and pale face.
  • Heart beat.
  • Changes in behavior.
  • Passed out.
  • Runny nose.
  • Muscleache.
  • Throw up.
  • Sore throat.
If you experience any of these reactions after receiving an influenza vaccine, contact your doctor immediately to get further treatment. To prevent influenza, in addition to vaccines you can do a number of things, such as reducing contact with the sick, resting at home when you are sick, eating and drinking enough, use a mask to avoid spreading the virus when you cough or sneeze, and make it a habit. to wash hands with soap and clean water.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hib Vaccine to Prevent Serious Diseases in Children

Hib vaccine protects your toddler from bacterial infections that cause meningitis, pneumonia, and epiglotitis. If you do not get the vaccine, these diseases have the potential to cause disability and even death. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is a bacterium that causes serious illness which is a class of Haemophilus influenzae bacteria. This bacterial infection usually affects children under 5 years of age. However, adults who suffer from certain medical conditions can also develop diseases due to Hib bacterial infection. Why do you need Hib vaccine? More than 90 percent of Hib bacterial infections occur in children under 5 years old. The highest incidence is found in infants aged 6-12 months. Hib bacteria can live in the nose and throat of healthy people, and usually do not cause any symptoms. Spread through mucus or snot from the throat and nose of the patient, for example when he coughs or sneezes. If you have been in contact with Hib bacteria, children can experience va...
Post a Comment
Read more

The use of the Tetanus vaccine and when to get it

The tetanus vaccine is recommended by the world health organization, WHO, to be given routinely to children, adults, and tourists who will visit an area where cases of tetanus are spreading. Learn about the use of the tetanus vaccine and its immunization period here. Tetanus vaccine is given to someone to prevent bacterial infection of Clostridium tetani which produces toxins and causes muscle stiffness. Tetanus infection can lead to serious health problems to death. Tetanus bacteria are commonly found in soil or mud and enter the body through wounds or open areas on the skin. But it can also be found in animal or human feces. This disease can also affect infants whose umbilical cord care is inadequate. At the time the baby is born, cutting the umbilical cord using an unsterile device has high potential to cause tetanus infection in the baby. Other risk factors that can cause tetanus in infants are born to mothers who did not get the TT vaccine (Tetanus Toxoid), or a history of tet...
Post a Comment
Read more