04/04/2024
🤒Influenza and the flu vaccine 💉
It’s Influenza season!
🤒What is Influenza?🤒
Influenza is a contagious disease caused by a virus. It kills between 6000-11000 South Africans every year. It is also known commonly as flu.
Unfortunately, many people wrongly refer to a common cold as the flu.
Read more on the common cold here: https://www.facebook.com/1442008255941830/posts/1460034124139243/?d=n
Influenza can lead to severe health conditions like pneumonia or bacterial infections. Each year, many children and adults are hospitalised with Influenza, and some of them die from it. People with certain health conditions are at higher risk for flu complications.
Even one death is too many – we must work together to protect ourselves and others from this.
🤒What types of Influenza viruses are there?🤒
There are 3 types of seasonal Influenza – A, B, and C. Type A Influenza viruses are further typed into subtypes according to different kinds and combinations of virus surface proteins. Among many subtypes of Influenza A viruses, currently, A(H1N1) and A(H3N2) subtypes are circulating among humans. Type C cases occur much less frequently than A and B.
🤒What is swine flu?🤒
Swine flu is an Influenza type A virus infecting humans. Initially, this virus was thought to be an Influenza virus that infects pigs and sometimes spreads to humans. However, studies have revealed that it is a virus formed by recombining several different genetic elements from pigs, birds, and human species. Therefore, swine flu is just a seasonal type of Influenza.
🤒What are the symptoms of flu?🤒
Symptoms usually appear about 1-4 days after infection. Typical flu symptoms include fever above 38ËšC, cough, sore throat, and body aches. It can also cause headaches, fatigue, muscle pains, chills, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
🤒How is flu treated?🤒
Medications for symptomatic relief of pain and fever will help with icky feelings. Ensure you drink plenty of clear fluids, rest, and keep warm. Do not give children under 18 years Aspirin. Seek medical care if the symptoms worsen or do not resolve.
A virus causes influenza. Therefore, antibiotics will not be effective against it. If you develop a secondary bacterial infection, antibiotics will be needed, but this will be at the discretion of your doctor. Your doctor can prescribe certain anti-viral medications, but they are only effective if given early in the disease.
🤒How can Influenza be prevented?🤒
The most effective way to prevent Influenza is the same as with other viruses. Wash your hands and limit contact with others. However, there is another excellent way to avoid Influenza:
‼️Get Vaccinated for Seasonal Influenza Every Year!‼️
đź’‰More about the flu vaccineđź’‰
The flu vaccine contains 3 or 4 different types of inactivated flu viruses or parts of those viruses called sub-units. Inactivation means the viruses have been changed (killed) and cannot make you ill.
The flu injection viruses are named for the year they were found and the place they were found. The WHO (World Health Organisation) yearly recommends which strains are most common and must be included in the vaccine. The WHO actually recommends the 3-strain vaccine in 2024.
đź’‰Who needs to get the flu vaccine?đź’‰
All people 6 months and older need a flu vaccine each year. Babies cannot get vaccinated until they are 6 months old. Therefore, it is critical that people who live with or care for those children get vaccinated. The same goes for children and adults with immunodeficiencies, who can’t make antibodies when vaccinated. This is called “cocooning,” where you protect those by having those around them get vaccinated.
As soon as the baby turns 6 months, it is still beneficial to vaccinate them, even if it is later in the year. The flu vaccine can be given to children from 6 months old.
Adults with chronic illnesses, especially heart and lung diseases, should be encouraged to get the flu vaccine.
When children are healthy, they can go to childcare or school, and parents can go to work. Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to ensure everyone can continue participating in these critical activities.
đź’‰Who should not get the flu vaccine?đź’‰
Previous severe reaction to the vaccine or any vaccine component, including egg protein. Babies below 6 months cannot get the flu vaccine.
đź’‰Is the flu vaccine recommended in pregnancy and breastfeeding?đź’‰
It is absolutely recommended. Since babies below 6 months cannot be vaccinated, mothers can transfer antibodies created from the vaccine during pregnancy via the placenta, and newborns will be protected. By breastfeeding, you can also share these antibodies through breast milk.
đź’‰How is the flu vaccine administered?đź’‰
Any child below 9 years who has not had a flu vaccine before, should get a second dose 4 weeks later. The first dose primes the immune system, while the second dose provides immunity.
Do not give your child any pain medications like Paracetamol or Ibuprofen 4 hours before or 4 hours after the shot. It has been shown to decrease the immune response if given within the time mentioned. The same goes for any other vaccine, for that matter.
đź’‰Can you get the flu vaccine if you are snotty or ill?đź’‰
People with cold or flu symptoms can still receive the vaccine, but it is recommended that if you have a fever, you wait until you are fever-free. You can get the vaccine if you are taking antibiotics.
đź’‰How effective is the flu vaccine?đź’‰
The vaccine is about 60% effective in healthy adults. It is important to note that the vaccine does not protect against other viruses causing colds during the winter season. It only prevents Influenza viruses. It does not protect against COVID. It takes about 2-3 weeks after the vaccine administration to create enough antibodies to be protective.
đź’‰Will you get ill from the flu vaccination?đź’‰
Some people may get a slight fever and soreness around the vaccine site. It is a total misconception that the flu vaccine makes you ill, as the viruses in the vaccine are inactivated. The sick feeling is most probably just the immune system being activated to create antibodies, which is a good thing!
đź’‰Is the flu vaccine available for 2024 already?đź’‰
Yes, it is, but they are already flying off the shelves. Get yours before they sell out.
Please see your doctor if you suspect you may have Influenza or need more flu vaccine information.
Pic by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
