How to get the first flu shot in autumn? China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention names 8 groups of people

Friends may have discovered that there are so many things that "go well" with autumn. In addition to the "first cup of milk tea" and "sour plum soup", there is also the first "flu vaccine".

Image source network

Every time the seasons change and the autumn and winter seasons come, the "cold army" is always "everywhere". Compared with the common cold, the influenza is more "powerful", not only the symptoms are more severe, but also the infectiousness is stronger...

Especially from October to March of the following year, there is often a peak in the epidemic. Recently, authoritative organizations have begun to recommend that people with weaker physical conditions get the flu vaccine as soon as possible.

Today we will study: Why is influenza so "strong"? Which groups are recommended to be vaccinated first?

What else should we pay attention to about the “flu vaccine”?

1. Influenza

Influenza (abbreviated as "flu") is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus that poses a serious threat to human health.

Image source: Internet. Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease. It is usually divided into four types according to the type of virus: A, B, C, and D. Among them, influenza A and B viruses are seasonally prevalent every year.

Type A virus: It is also widely found in poultry, pigs, horses, seals, and even whales, minks and other animals. Important antigenic variants appear every 2 to 3 years, making the population generally susceptible and causing seasonal epidemics.

Type B virus: The natural host is humans, and it is mainly prevalent in winter and spring in my country.

The general population is susceptible to influenza viruses, and the harm to high-risk groups such as pregnant women, infants, the elderly and patients with chronic diseases is more serious after being infected with influenza. Influenza outbreaks are prone to occur in places where people gather, such as schools, childcare institutions and nursing homes .

On September 5, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention released a new version of the "Influenza Vaccination Guidelines" , which updated research evidence, influenza vaccine types, vaccination recommendations, etc.

Image source: China CDC News

II. Key and high-risk groups

Annual influenza vaccination is an effective way to prevent influenza and reduce the burden of influenza-related severe illness and death. It can also reduce the health hazards caused by influenza-related diseases and the run on medical resources.

The new guidelines recommend that all people aged ≥ 6 months with no contraindications should receive influenza vaccination.

In light of the influenza epidemic situation and the prevention and control strategy of multiple diseases, in order to minimize the harm of influenza, the following eight key and high-risk groups are recommended to be vaccinated in a timely manner:

Image source network

1. Medical personnel, including clinical treatment personnel, public health personnel, health quarantine personnel, etc.;

2. Elderly persons aged 60 and above;

3. People suffering from one or more chronic diseases;

4. Vulnerable people and employees in places where people gather, such as nursing homes, long-term care institutions, and welfare homes;

5. Pregnant women;

6. Children aged 6-59 months;

7. Family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months old;

8. People in key places such as childcare institutions, primary and secondary schools, and supervision places.

Image source network

3. What you need to know about vaccines

In addition, the guidelines also provide guidance and specifications on issues related to vaccination:

1. What types of vaccines are there?

The influenza vaccines used in my country during the 2023-2024 epidemic season include:

Trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3)

Quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV4)

Trivalent live attenuated vaccine (LAIV3)

2. Is there any difference in the doses of the vaccine?

Children aged 6 months to 8 years : If they have not received the influenza vaccine before, they should receive 2 doses for the first time, with an interval of at least 4 weeks; if they have received 1 or more doses of influenza vaccine in 2022-2023 or before, they should receive 1 dose.

Image source network

Children aged 9 years and above and adults : Only one dose is required, regardless of whether they have received influenza vaccine before. For live attenuated influenza virus vaccine, only one dose is required, regardless of whether they have received influenza vaccine before.

Pregnant women : You can get the flu vaccine at any stage of pregnancy. It is recommended to get the vaccine as soon as this year's flu vaccine becomes available.

3. Can it be administered at the same time as the new coronavirus vaccine?

Based on multiple pieces of evidence and after careful consideration, it is believed that people aged 18 and above can be vaccinated with inactivated influenza vaccine and new coronavirus vaccine at the same time .

For people who have received live attenuated virus vaccine (LAIV) and minors under 18 years of age , due to the lack of evidence for simultaneous vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine, it is recommended that the interval between vaccination and COVID-19 vaccination be greater than 14 days

Image source network

For people who can be vaccinated with different types of vaccines or vaccines from different manufacturers, the recipient (or his or her guardian) can voluntarily choose to receive any influenza vaccine, and there is no priority recommendation.

In the same epidemic season, people who have completed the full vaccination process according to the vaccination procedures do not need to be vaccinated again; pregnant women can receive the inactivated influenza vaccine at any stage of pregnancy; vaccination units can provide vaccination services throughout the epidemic season.

Sources of this article's opinions: China Disease Control News, Healthy Yan'an, Healthy Ordos Official

[1].https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Qx9EqKEeGoSbhZug5uO6MQ

[2].https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/aZ1IzvMkMNPZMKMQnYtB-w

[3].https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/vCMgVNER0G9svPjYEUgDGQ

Editor: Xiaoke

Review: Science Bacteria