The campaign of vaccination against gripe, and also against COVID-19, began last October. In most of the autonomous communities it will end on October 31.
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This vaccine is free for people who belong to risk groups (over 60 years of age, immunosuppressed, with previous illnesses or smokers).
But, in many areas, vaccination without an appointment has been opened to promote group immunity and reduce the infection rate: cases of influenza A alone have increased by 75% in the last week, according to the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII).
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However, if you do not belong to any of these groups and are interested in getting a flu vaccine, you can consult with your doctor of Primary Care.
Prefilled syringes against influenza are sold, with a prescription, in Spanish pharmacies, with a price that depends on the type of vaccine (six different ones are marketed).
Vaccination is the most effective measure to prevent respiratory transmitted infections such as influenza and COVID-19, as well as their complications.
However, not all population groups have the same risks of complications if they suffer from any of these respiratory diseases.
How long does it take for the flu vaccine to take effect?
It takes about “two weeks” for our body to develop immune protection. against the influenza virus. This is the same time it takes for the COVID-19 vaccine to protect us.
He Dr. Manuel Linaresfrom Spanish Society of Primary Care Medicine (SEMERGEN) explains to us that the peak of the flu is expected for “the end of this week”, although it could also be recorded for next week.
Therefore, from the Spanish Association of Vaccinology (AEV) remind that “if they have not yet been vaccinated, once recovered, people who have had the flu can – and it is highly recommended – get vaccinated to protect themselves against other strains of flu in circulation”
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“By getting vaccinated we also protect those around us. Therefore, we recommend that all people over 60 and vulnerable people who have not yet done so get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19, as well as parents of children between 6 and 59 months vaccinate them against the flu and immunize children under 6 months against RSV.
Can I get the flu even if I have been vaccinated?
From the Castilla-La Mancha Health Service They emphasize that the flu vaccine protects approximately 80% of the people to whom it is administered, “so it is possible to contract the disease despite having been vaccinated.”
It may also happen that “the flu is incubating in the days immediately before or after receiving the vaccine.”
At those moments “there is still no protectionsince on average it takes two weeks for the vaccine to take effect.”
It is highly recommended, since it reduces the severity of symptoms and the risk of serious complications both in older people and in the rest of the risk groups in which treatment is recommended. flu vaccination.
Therefore, it must be clear that:
- Does not avoid infection
- Yes protects against complications derived from the infection
And the administration of a dose each season is considered “necessary”, since both viruses suffer variations in their molecular structure that “allow them to escape the protection conferred by vaccination or previous infection.”
It should also be taken into account that “antibodies produced in response to vaccination and/or previous infection decrease over time.”
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Can the flu vaccine cause me this illness?
Most of the vaccines against the disease that are currently administered are inactivated vaccines that do not contain live viruses. They are made up of virus fractions or protein subunits and therefore cannot cause the flu.
As with other vaccines, local reactions or, more rarely, fever, malaise and body aches may occur.
These reactions begin in the first 6-12 hours and can persist for 1-2 days. The most common adverse reactions, however, are less serious than the symptoms caused by the actual disease.
2024-01-09 18:11:01
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