Influenza Vaccine

The disease

The influenza virus attacks the respiratory system and is highly contagious. It spreads through coughing, sneezing, or contact with nasal secretions or phlegm. Symptoms include a fever of over 38 degrees Celsius, throat ache, headache, runny nose, coughing, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, and reduced appetite.

Every year, approximately 20% to 30% of children contract the influenza virus, serving as the primary source of transmission within the general population. Babies and children are at high risk of contracting the flu and developing complications such as pneumonia. In serious cases, the disease may even result in hospitalization and death. The risk of severe flu is even higher in children with heart diseases, respiratory diseases and neurological diseases.

The vaccine

The influenza vaccine is safe and effective, providing protection throughout a single winter. Every fall, a vaccine is produced against the strains of influenza viruses anticipated to be the most prevalent in the next year. The recommendation to get vaccinated is particularly essential for individuals who are at high risk for serious complications from influenza, especially infants and young children between six months and five years old.

There are two types of influenza vaccines

• Inactivated influenza vaccine - administered to individuals aged six months and older.
• Live attenuated vaccine - this vaccine is typically administered to individuals aged two to 49 years old. In addition to systematic protection, this vaccine also provides local protection of the nasal and oral mucosa, through which the virus is contracted. It is not recommended for people with asthma, people with certain immunodeficiency conditions or pregnant women.

Vaccination schedule: every year in the fall, the vaccine is administered to second, third, and fourth-grade children in schools. In special education schools, the vaccine is administered from first grade to ninth grade. It is recommended to get vaccinated in September-October to be prepared for the winter.

How many doses are needed:

• Children up to nine years old who have not received the vaccine before should receive two doses, with a 4-week interval between the first and the second dose.
• For all subsequent years, only one dose is required.

• Redness and pain at the injection site and local swelling or in the entire limb: you can apply a clean cloth soaked in lukewarm water to the injection site and avoid massaging the area.
• Fever: you can administer an analgesic to help relieve pain and reduce fever.
• General discomfort: lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, consistent crying, diarrhea, restlessness, drowsiness.
• Hoarseness, coughing, eye irritation and itchiness: these may persist for a day or two after vaccination.

Runny nose, nasal congestion, headaches, throat ache, coughing, and nasal bleeding: you can administer an analgesic to help relieve pain and reduce fever.

If your child experiences symptoms after getting vaccinated in school - please inform the school nurse.

Vaccine safety

The flu vaccine is considered safe and effective. The largest study of its kind in the United States, conducted in 2001-2003 on over 40,000 babies and toddlers aged 6 to 23 months, reviewed requests for medical intervention following administration of the flu vaccine. The study found very few requests for medical intervention and that none of those were serious.

Contraction after the vaccination

The vaccine is safe, but can someone who received the flu vaccine infect others?

• Inactivated vaccine: composed of killed viruses that cannot cause disease, and it is therefore impossible for anyone who was vaccinated to infect another person.
• Live attenuated vaccine: may endanger a person who is severely immunocompromised. If children are vaccinated with a live attenuated vaccine, it is important that they do not come into contact with people who are severely immunocompromised (people who need an environment free from viruses and bacteria) for 7 days after the vaccination.

When is the flu vaccine not administered?

The influenza vaccine cannot cause disease, and most children can receive the flu vaccine.

Below are circumstances in which the vaccine is not administered:

• If you have a disease that is accompanied by high fever. In this case, the vaccine can be administered only after the recovery.
• If the child has asthma or a chronic or prolonged illness, or was recently treated for the flu – consult the vaccinating nurse.
• If an acute allergic reaction had occurred after the flu vaccine was administered (in case the allergic reaction was mild – the vaccine can be administered). Children who are allergic to milk, egg whites and peanuts can receive the vaccine.