Every year in the fall, parents are offered to vaccinate their babies and themselves against the flu. At the same time, many doubt whether such vaccination is necessary, because it is not included in the list of mandatory ones and causes very conflicting opinions.
The pros
- Vaccination will help protect against a dangerous disease, which is especially valuable during epidemics. The effectiveness of modern anti-influenza vaccines is estimated at 70-90%.
- For a child, this is doubly important, since in young children, the flu is often accompanied by severe complications and hospitalization.
- Getting vaccinated is cheaper than treating the flu. In addition, the mother will not have to take sick leave, which also affects the family budget.
- Having vaccinated a large number of people, it is possible to achieve the appearance of herd immunity.
- Modern vaccines are distinguished by an improved composition - they have reduced the dosage of antigens while maintaining their effectiveness, and there are no preservatives containing mercury.
- Vaccines are produced in syringe doses, which prevents mistakes during injection.
- The vaccine reduces the number of complications from influenza by 30% and deaths by 50%.
- Influenza vaccination is 50-60% effective against other acute respiratory infections.
- Because influenza vaccines have few adverse reactions, they can be given at the same time as other vaccines.
Why is the disease dangerous?
Influenza in children is often severe - the temperature rises to 39-40 degrees, febrile seizures are possible, children complain of headaches, their condition is greatly worsened.
The danger lies mainly in the fact that the virus greatly weakens the immune system, so a child who gets sick with the flu becomes defenseless against bacteria that constantly attack our respiratory tract. This causes complications of influenza such as pneumonia, otitis media and meningitis.
In addition, if the baby has chronic diseases, the flu virus causes them to worsen. It especially harms the nervous and cardiovascular system of children.
The cons and is it worth giving this vaccine?
There is much debate about the appropriateness of influenza vaccination. The arguments of opponents of such vaccination are as follows:
- The vaccine "works" for only a few months. This is true, because the drug is created on the basis of circulating viruses, and by the end of winter new strains may appear, so the risk of infection remains.
- Influenza vaccines are rare, but they still give a vaccine reaction in the form of a short rise in temperature, as well as swelling at the injection site.
Vaccination will not protect against infection. A vaccinated child can get the flu, but the purpose of the vaccine is not to prevent infection. Vaccination will help to avoid becoming severe and serious complications of the infection.
Indications for vaccination
A flu shot is recommended:
- Children who are often ill.
- Babies who have chronic diseases, as well as malformations of the respiratory system.
- Children with heart and central nervous system diseases, including congenital defects.
- Children who have blood diseases, kidney pathologies, endocrine diseases.
- Kids attending childcare facilities.
- Children with immunodeficiencies, including those caused by drugs.
Contraindications
You cannot vaccinate against influenza if:
- Allergies to chicken eggs (based on which vaccines are created against this infection);
- Exacerbation of a chronic or allergic disease (it is recommended to vaccinate only 2 weeks after recovery);
- SARS and elevated body temperature;
- Past serious reactions to influenza vaccination.
Possible complications and can they be prevented?
In most cases, influenza vaccines do not cause any complications that are dangerous for the child. However, in order for the vaccination to be well tolerated, to be effective and not to give adverse reactions, it is important to vaccinate the child before the epidemic begins, then his immunity will not be unduly burdened. It is also recommended to take an antihistamine the day before the manipulation, on the day of vaccination and the next day.
E. Komarovsky's opinion
A well-known pediatrician claims that flu vaccines do work, so it's worth getting vaccinated. Moreover, in young children, such vaccination has its own characteristics. If the baby has not had the flu before and has not been vaccinated against this disease, he needs two doses of the vaccine with an interval of about a month.
For those parents who doubt whether it is worth inoculating a child with such a variable virus, Komarovsky recalls that there are many virological laboratories operating around the world that determine the types of viruses that circulate among people. Every year at the end of spring, they predict which flu viruses people will encounter in the fall, after which they begin to produce a vaccine. By September, all well-known vaccine manufacturers are providing drugs that include several variants of the virus that a person is most likely to encounter this year.
Preparation before vaccination
The need for vaccination against influenza should be consulted with the pediatrician watching the baby. He will take into account the characteristics of the child's body and draw conclusions about how the baby will transfer the vaccination. Also, those who want to be sure of the health of the crumbs and prevent possible complications should have a blood and urine test. In some cases, it makes sense to go to a consultation with an immunologist.
Minimum child age and vaccination frequency
The flu shot can be given to babies over 6 months old. If children have never had the flu before and have never been vaccinated against the flu, they should get the vaccine twice. In this case, two injections of 1/2 of the adult dose of the vaccine are given, a month apart. The injection is often given intramuscularly, but the drug can also be injected deep under the skin.
Vaccinations are usually carried out in September or October, so that by the beginning of a possible epidemic, children already have immune protection. Later vaccinations may coincide with the incubation period of the disease and not affect the possibility of infection. Since the composition of vaccines changes every year, which is associated with a mutation of the virus, it is advised to vaccinate children and adults against this infection annually.
Actions in case of negative reactions of the body to the vaccine
Although the flu shot is weakly reactogenic, like any other vaccine, it affects the functioning of the immune system, so there is always a risk of negative reactions. If you notice any adverse symptoms in a baby who has recently received an anti-influenza vaccine, for example, a significant fever or an extensive local reaction to an injection, you should consult a doctor. He will determine the reasons for the worsening of the condition and suggest treatment.
