Influenza or influenza is a highly transmissible respiratory viral disease. Typically, most affected people recover within one to two weeks.
It can cause serious complications in people 65 and older, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic diseases or conditions such as heart, respiratory, kidney, immunosuppression, cancer, transplant, obesity, and diabetes disease, including death. ).
How is this virus spread?
– The virus is mainly transmitted from person to person through droplets from the patient’s respiratory tract, coughing, sneezing or talking.
– What are the symptoms?
People with the flu may have:
- fever over 38 degrees,
- cough,
- stuffy nose,
- sore throat, headache and muscle pain,
- Difficulty breathing,
- pneumonia.
– How to prevent it?
– Influenza vaccines reduce complications, hospitalization, sequelae, and death from influenza viruses.
Vaccination
The national vaccination calendar includes flu shots for:
- Health personnel: One dose per year. Check the adult dual vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, and triple/dual virus (measles and rubella) vaccine schedules.
- Persons 65 years of age or older: One dose per year. Pneumococcal vaccine, and daily double adult booster vaccine (for tetanus and diphtheria), if applicable.
- People aged 6 to 24 months (inclusive) must receive two doses, at least 4 weeks apart, corresponding to their annual doses, except those who have been vaccinated in previous years. When you go to the vaccination center, bring your card so they can check and fill out the plan (if applicable).
- Pregnant women: Influenza vaccine should be given at any time during pregnancy and acellular triple bacterial vaccine (dTpa) starting from the 20th week of each pregnancy. Remember the importance of co-vaccinating against COVID-19.
- Postpartum population: Influenza vaccination is mandatory before leaving the maternity hospital and, if not vaccinated during pregnancy, up to 10 days postpartum. Remember the importance of co-vaccinating against COVID-19. When you get vaccinated each year, remember that you must get a double adult vaccine, against hepatitis B and against measles and rubella.
- Persons with risk factors 2 years to 64 years inclusive: One dose per year.
risk factors
Risk factors to consider include: obesity, diabetes mellitus, respiratory disease, heart disease, congenital or acquired immunodeficiency, neoplastic hematologic disease, transplantation, and/or dialysis patients with chronic renal failure.
People with risk factors can present a doctor’s order or any documentation that demonstrates a risk status for flu complications.
Strategists: Usually dynamic annual doses based on influenza vaccination strategies. The same groups that are established and covered by the COVID-19 vaccine will also be able to join this category.
health examination
Health controls are very important and are performed at least once a year during childhood, even if the person is not sick. Control measures should include ophthalmic and dental visits.
toll free
(0800) 222-1002 is the State Department of Health telephone number for inquiries on a variety of topics. Option 5 is used to provide advice on vaccination programmes.
