Flu vaccine: benefits, contraindications and side effects

The flu vaccine is one of the most effective tools for preventing one of the most common diseases during the cold months. What are its benefits? Are there any contraindications or side effects? Let’s look more closely at everything about the flu vaccine.

To prevent flu, whose peak incidence fires every year in the autumn/winter months – the best tool is especially beneficial, influenza vaccine in the case of the most vulnerable, such as children, elderly and people who suffer from chronic diseases, especially related to the respiratory system.

However, although the vaccine is a therapeutic weapon extended there are still many patients who wonder about the risks, and the benefits that can report the use of the vaccine as a preventive strategy against flu symptoms. Each year, health authorities activate vaccination campaigns to protect especially those with greater health risks.

Flu vaccine: Composition

The most tolerated vaccines are those that are prepared with inactivated virus and virus reduced to only proteins. The vaccine is given once a year, before the start of the first cases of flu (between October and November). There is also a homeopathic flu vaccine, which is administered from September to March, with a dose per week, reaching a dose every 8 hours for 24 hours, in the case of the first symptoms of the flu and a dose morning and night for four days, when the symptoms are obvious.

Flu vaccine: Benefits

The benefits of the flu vaccine, as explained by the health authorities are to prevent disease and avoid possible complications. Indeed, we must not forget that flu is associated with various complications, such as bacterial infections or respiratory tract problems. You can also complicate chronic diseases such as diabetes, or those that directly affect the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The vaccine should protect against the risks that are associated with these diseases. The protection provided by flu vaccine is estimated to be 70-90%. Also, the vaccine contributes to the disruption of the parasite in the infection, helping to reduce the incidence and, therefore, the rates of hospitalization.

Flu vaccine: Contraindications

Before administering the vaccine, the doctor will consider possible contraindications. For example, should not be given to those who have a special hypersensitivity to egg proteins or other components. The only exception in this case would be if the first to assess the benefits and risks are higher, and if it is possible to use, if necessary, chemoprophylaxis with antiviral. Administration of the vaccine should not be performed in case of episodes of fever.

Moreover, the vaccine against flu during pregnancy is not contraindicated. Several scientific studies have shown the benefits of vaccination to prevent flu and passing it to avoid future baby. Even breastfeeding is not a contraindication, as the latter does not interfere with the immune response.

Flu vaccine: Side effects

The side effects of the flu vaccine include reactions, especially local, affecting the area where got the injection. In this case, the patient may experience redness, swelling and pain in joints and muscles. In general, these reactions are of short duration.

The serious adverse reactions, such as neurological, are very rare and exceptional cases. The same applies to the cardiovascular side effects such as pericarditis and vasculitis. After vaccination may appear headache, neuropathy and encephalopathy.

Among the gastrointestinal effects can cause vomiting, blurred vision, or swelling. Also keep in mind that vaccination is associated, in some cases, fever, malaise, chills, fatigue, sweating, agitation, and allergic reactions.