Contraindications of influenza vaccine

Vaccines are mainly drugs developed to prevent certain diseases, so when children are young, parents will take them to get vaccinated against related diseases, such as hepatitis B and chickenpox vaccines. During the influenza period, most people also need to be vaccinated because vaccination can effectively prevent the influenza virus from invading the human body. But what are the contraindications during influenza vaccination?

1. Contraindications to influenza vaccination

First of all, there are contraindications to influenza vaccination. The following conditions should not be used for vaccination. You should inform your doctor in advance whether you have the following diseases: allergies to eggs or any other ingredients in the vaccine (including auxiliary materials, formaldehyde, lysate, etc.); people with acute diseases, severe chronic diseases, acute onset of chronic diseases, colds and fever; patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome;

People with uncontrolled epilepsy and other progressive neurological diseases; people with severe allergies, allergic to gentamicin sulfate; people under 3 years old and other people who are considered unsuitable for vaccination by the doctor; should be observed at the vaccination site for 15 to 30 minutes after vaccination and leave only if no discomfort is felt. The vaccination site should be kept dry and clean for 24 hours, and try not to bathe it. Do not engage in strenuous activities and make sure to rest for three days after the injection. Redness and swelling at the injection site are normal and will disappear naturally after 24 hours. If redness or swelling occurs, you can apply cold compress to the vaccination site. If nodules appear, you can apply hot compress to the vaccination site. If symptoms such as persistent fever occur, you can go to the nearest hospital for medical treatment and report to the vaccination unit.

2. The dangers of not getting the flu vaccine

Risk of influenza infection: During the peak of the influenza epidemic, the influenza incidence rate among unvaccinated children can be as high as 30%-40%; Symptoms: Once infected with the influenza, high fever, headache, body aches or weakness, and chills may occur; there may be respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, dry cough, sore throat, as well as gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. These symptoms usually last for about a week, and the feeling of fatigue and weakness sometimes lasts for 2-3 weeks. Risk of complications: Influenza can also aggravate underlying diseases or cause secondary pneumonia, myocarditis, and in severe cases, death. Risk of absenteeism from school and work: An influenza epidemic can cause a large number of school-age children to miss school due to illness and parents to be absent from work.

3. When should the flu vaccine be administered?

The best time to get a flu shot is before the flu season starts each year. Most flu outbreaks occur between November and February. Vaccines containing the latest virus strains will become available in late summer and will be available in September. According to the influenza vaccination guidelines, getting the influenza vaccine 1-2 months before the peak of the influenza epidemic can more effectively exert the protective effect of the vaccine.

Things to note about influenza vaccination

1. Vaccination is required every year. Since the antibody level produced in the human body after vaccination will decrease over time, and the strain composition of the vaccine changes every year due to different prevalent dominant strains, the influenza vaccine of the current year is required every year.

2. It is best to get the vaccine in September. Getting the flu vaccine 1 to 2 months before the peak of the influenza epidemic can more effectively exert the protective effect of the vaccine. The recommended vaccination time is from September to November.

3. Children aged 6 months to 3 years who have never been vaccinated should receive 2 doses. Children who have never been vaccinated with influenza vaccine or who only received one dose in the previous year should receive 2 doses with an interval of 4 weeks; thereafter, they should receive one dose every year before the peak influenza season. Other groups take one dose per year. The route of administration is intramuscular or deep subcutaneous injection.

4. Patients with acute febrile diseases and those in the acute stage of chronic diseases cannot be vaccinated.

How to prevent influenza in children

1. Pay attention to rest. The younger the baby is, the more rest and care he needs. Resume activities after the symptoms disappear to avoid recurrence due to failure to clear the lesion. For babies with fever, it is best to rest in bed to reduce stimulation of their central nervous system.

2. Eat a balanced diet. The general principle is to choose easily digestible food and eat small and frequent meals. If you force your baby to eat, it will put a heavy burden on his gastrointestinal tract, which is harmful to his body and disease recovery. The amount of food you eat each time can be smaller, but you can eat more often. Give your baby more fruit juice, such as fresh orange juice.

3. Create a suitable environment and keep the baby's room well ventilated. For babies with fever, fresh air helps the skin sweat effectively and lowers body temperature. You should avoid blowing air directly towards your baby, as this will cause the blood vessels in your baby's skin to constrict and aggravate the condition.

4. Encourage your baby to drink more water. Water can increase the body's cell metabolism, promote the excretion of toxins in the body, and at the same time can effectively sweat, which is beneficial to lowering body temperature.