Vaccination campaign against influenza
Written by:Influenza is a highly contagious infection of the nose, throat and lungs. Therefore, each year takes place in Spain the vaccination campaign against influenza.
The flu is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and, in some cases, can even lead to death. Is, as experts say in Internal Medicine , does not only affect sick people, but also young and healthy people. Therefore, the best way to prevent these consequences is the flu vaccine.
Who should get a flu shot?
Everyone over six months of age should be vaccinated against influenza each year. The flu vaccination reduced by more than 70% the Pediatric ICU admissions and hospitalizations for all age groups. It also reduces hospitalizations by 80% of diabetic patients and 50% of hospitalizations in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
There are seven types of flu vaccine, although the most common is the standard trivalent doses is aimed at people aged between six months and 64 years. There is also the high-dose trivalent vaccine, indicated for patients over 65 years and the quadrivalent vaccine by nasal spray is aimed at people between two and 49 years.
Although there is the notion that anyone is free to receive the vaccine or not according to the principle of individual freedom, we must consider that there is the principle of vicarious liability. According to the latter principle, people who have intensive contact with the public should be vaccinated; as they can be a tremendously important disease vector, such as doctors, nurses, teachers and caregivers, among others.
What people should not be vaccinated?
There are some groups of people who should not be vaccinated against the flu for different reasons. These people are:
- Children under six months.
- Patients with severe allergies to ingredients of the vaccine against influenza. Allergy mainly gelatins, antibiotic or egg.
- Patients who have had Guillain-Barre syndrome.
- Patients who are not healthy or are recovering from an illness.
- Patients with autoimmune diseases are not well controlled. The immune enhancer vaccine can awaken these diseases.
