It’s time for the best flu vaccination, so hurry up and arrange it!

　　Recently, the weather has been hot and cold, and the flu virus has become more and more persistent, leading to more and more big friends and children being recruited.

　　Autumn and winter are the high-risk seasons of influenza, and high-risk groups such as pregnant women, infants, the elderly and patients with chronic basic diseases have a higher risk of serious illness and death after suffering from influenza. In particular, the epidemic situation in COVID-19 is still going on, and the risk of overlapping epidemic of COVID-19 and influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases still exists this winter and next spring. Influenza vaccination is the most effective means to prevent influenza, which can reduce the harm caused by influenza-related diseases and the occupation of medical resources.

　　01

　　What’s the difference between flu and common cold?

　　The common cold is often a respiratory disease caused by catching cold or rhinovirus, coronavirus, bacteria and other pathogens, which is not contagious and has mild symptoms and is self-limited.

　　Influenza is a respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus, which is harmful to human health. The antigenicity of influenza virus is changeable and spreads rapidly, and it can be contagious in places where people gather in schools, kindergartens and nursing homes. The main symptoms are fever, headache, myalgia and general malaise, and the body temperature can reach 39 ~ 40℃. Most of them are accompanied by systemic symptoms such as sore muscles and joints, fatigue, loss of appetite, and there are often digestive tract symptoms such as sore throat, dry cough, runny nose, chest discomfort, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

　　02

　　What kinds of influenza vaccines are there in China at present?

　　The influenza vaccines that have been approved for marketing in China are trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) and IV.

　　Valent inactivated influenza vaccine (Iv4) and trivalent attenuated live influenza vaccine (LAIV3), trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV3) includes split vaccine and subunit vaccine, tetravalent inactivated influenza vaccine (Iv4) is split vaccine, and trivalent attenuated live influenza vaccine (LAIV3) is attenuated vaccine. Influenza vaccine belongs to non-immunization program vaccine in China, and residents voluntarily vaccinate it.

　　03

　　Who needs the flu vaccine?

　　Generally speaking, it is suggested that all people over 6 months old who are willing to get flu vaccine and have no contraindications should get it every year. Especially for the following people, vaccination is recommended first:

　　First, medical personnel, including clinical rescue personnel, public health personnel, health and quarantine personnel, etc.; Second, participants and security personnel in large-scale activities; Third, vulnerable people and employees in old-age care institutions, long-term care institutions, welfare homes and other crowd gathering places; Fourth, people in key places, such as kindergartens, teachers and students in primary and secondary schools, detainees and staff in prison institutions; Fifth, other people with high risk of influenza, including elderly people aged 60 and above, children aged 6 months to 5 years, chronically ill people, family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months, and pregnant women.

　　04

　　How many doses of flu vaccine do I need?

　　The instructions for different influenza vaccines in China are slightly different, so you can follow the immunization procedures in the instructions or follow the recommended procedures in the Technical Guide for Influenza Vaccine Vaccination in China.

　　1. Inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV)

　　Children from 6 months to 8 years old who are vaccinated with influenza for the first time should be vaccinated twice, with an interval of ≥4 weeks; Children who have received one or more doses of influenza vaccine in 2021-2022 or before need to receive one dose; Children and adults aged 9 and over only need to be vaccinated once.

　　2. Attenuated live influenza vaccine (LAIV)

　　No matter whether you have been vaccinated with influenza vaccine or not, only one dose is given.

　　05

　　When should I get the flu vaccine every year?

　　Usually, after 2-4 weeks of influenza vaccination, antibodies with protective level can be produced, and the antibody titer begins to decline after 6-8 months. China Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Technical Guide for Vaccine Vaccination (2020-2021) suggests that it is best to complete vaccination before the end of October. For those who have not been vaccinated before the end of October, immunization services can be provided throughout the epidemic season.

　　06

　　Where can I get the flu vaccine?

　　You can go to the nearest community health service center or health center for vaccination clinic to get the flu vaccine.

　　Transferred from Shijiazhuang City for Disease Control and Prevention.