Last week we all got flu shots. Yes, we did. This is an annual family event when the little one together with her mommy and daddy gets vaccinated against Influenza. I also recommend it to all my friends, family and patients for a simple reason. It works to keep you safe.
A very dear friendโs nine-month-old visited the ICU after an Influenza complication. The timely medical intervention helped in getting the little one better. A preventable disease that kills thousands every year needs awareness at all levels. Itโs not the common flu but a deadly virus called Influenza which is especially fatal for the susceptible. Those with weakened immunity, heart or lung problems are at high risk, but it can affect anyone anytime.
What you have to remember is that Influenza is preventable.
Six Truths about Influenza vaccine
Here are six things you need to know about the flu vaccine and how it helps you with prevention.
#1 Flu vaccine is easily available and is the best way to prevent Flu
While hand-washing, cough hygiene, and personal safety measures are important, itโs difficult to implement in children. The play schoolers are especially susceptible. The Influenza virus is a deadly virus and makes children very sick. Every year thousands of children below five years are hospitalized with Flu related complications. Worldwide, influenza causes five million severe illnesses and half a million deaths each year.[i] This can be reduced.
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But influenza can be prevented and the vaccine is the best way to protect you and your family.
#2 It protects your children year around and prevents spreading
When you vaccinate your children and get vaccinated, you prevent transmission even if infected. This helps in improving the community exposure to the flu vaccine and gives something called a herd immunity[ii] [iii]. In schools this is important.
Flu is contagious and prevention is the best course.
#3 Itโs beneficial for children with lower immunity
Your baby has a higher risk of complications, children with the immunity-related disease, with lung or heart diseases or any chronic disease.[iv]
#4 The influenza vaccine may cause mild fever.
The flu shot will not give your child Flu. Since the vaccine has an inactivated virus, it cannot cause Flu. An inactivated virus preserves its antigenicity (ability to cause an immune response), but doesnโt have its disease-causing ability. The vaccine may have some side effects, like fever and pain at the injection site. But this is usually mild. [v]
#5 The Flu shot prevents your child from missing school that often
Getting the Flu shot helps keep your child safe and healthy. It also helps the child avoid missing important learning time at school.
#6 The Flu shot is effective, even if not 100%
When you have good reasons to get protection and a safe and effective vaccine, should you delay?
Now the above was me speaking as a doctor. But, being a parent myself, I know you will still have questions like:
My Answer: The common cold and the Flu virus are two different diseases and the Flu shot doesnโt protect against the common cold.
My Answer: Anyone aged six months and older can go for yearly Flu shot vaccination, with few exceptions.
Can flu lead to other medical complications?
My Answer: Pulmonary complications of influenza are commonest. Pneumonia can occur due to the Influenza virus or secondary bacterial infection.
Can a child get Flu even after vaccination?
My Answer: Yes because the vaccine is not 100 percent effective. But the mortality and complications are much less.
Every year the Flu Vaccine has different strains, depending on the predictions made about the circulating strain. This means the percentage of protection varies. But itโs still the best way to protect against Flu. Flu is not only dangerous, but a very smart virus which keeps changing its genetic composition making it a tough enemy.
But your doctor can help your child gain protection, with a timely flu shot and lets you know whether its the common cold or flu
References
[i] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4327778/
[ii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22414740
[iii] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4083064/
[iv] https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/whoshouldvax.htm?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fflu%2Fprotect%2Fwhoshouldvax.htm
[v] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22895945
Also, read
Swine Flu (H1N1): Symptoms,Prevention & Treatment
Ultimate Nutrition tips to fight Flu and improve immunity
Everyday Practices to Prevent Swine Flu
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