Health, Flu vaccine: when to get vaccinated?

At what time of the year is it recommended to get a flu shot? Can we still be vaccinated late in the season? Why redo the vaccine every year? Are we all concerned with influenza vaccination? Explanations and recommendations.

Summary

1. The vaccine against the flu: the vaccination calendar
2. Why an annual vaccination?
3. What is the composition of the 2018-2019 flu vaccine?
4. Who is affected by vaccination?

The vaccine against the flu: the vaccination calendar

Low temperatures, low humidity ... These are the weather conditions conducive to the circulation of viruses! In the Northern Hemisphere, the seasonal flu epidemic occurs in the fall and generally continues until the end of winter. To counter it, the influenza vaccination campaign starts in October and lasts four months. This vaccination schedule aims to anticipate the viral peak usually reached in January.

The health authorities recommend that the population be vaccinated each year, and at the earliest ... Preferably from mid-October or during the month of November.

For latecomers, it is still possible to get vaccinated against this virus late in the season. However, be aware that once the vaccine is administered, it will take a fortnight before the antibodies can take effect.

Why an annual vaccination?

Six to 9 months ... This is the length of time the antibodies will persist in your body. After this period, you will no longer be protected against the flu. This is the first reason why it is essential to renew this vaccine every year.

The second? New viral strains enter circulation each year. Seasonal influenza outbreaks are caused by viruses of type A and B, in constant mutation. The flu vaccine contains three or even four viral strains. These type A and B strains are selected each year by a group of scientific experts, depending on the viruses circulating in the year in question. The composition of the influenza vaccine varies from one year to the next.

What is the composition of the 2018-2019 flu vaccine?

This new trivalent vaccine distributed in the Northern Hemisphere will consist of three strains, including two strains of type A virus: a first H1N1 collected in 2015 in Michigan and already included in the composition of the vaccine version 2017-2018, and a second H3N taken in Singapore in 2016.

Regarding the strain of type B virus, scientists selected a virus collected in 2017 in Colorado.

Finally, an additional viral strain, type B will enter the composition of quadrivalent influenza vaccines (consisting of four strains, ed). This is a type B virus, collected in 2013 in Phuket, Thailand.

Who is affected by vaccination?

In France, every year, more than 2.5 million people are affected by this viral infection. An infection most often benign which is cured in a few days. The prescription is succinct: rest, rehydration and taking antipyretics in case of fever.

And yet, the flu is responsible each year for a large number of medical complications that can lead to death. In France, the 2016-2017 influenza epidemic has led to more than 1,500 resuscitation hospitalizations and nearly 14,400 deaths. Among the subjects most exposed to medical complications: people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, children under 5, obese individuals, those suffering from certain chronic diseases ...

Health authorities count nearly 12 million medically vulnerable French people because of a weakened immune system. In these individuals, the use of influenza vaccine is strongly recommended. To facilitate access to this preventive vaccination, they will receive at home a voucher for taking care of the vaccine by the Health Insurance.

As part of an experiment in force in certain regions of France, it is now possible to get vaccinated directly by its pharmacist. A device that remains reserved for people "at risk", with the exception of pregnant women.

Health authorities also insist on the high risk of transmission of the virus by air, in case of coughing or sneezing in particular. Thus, the flu vaccine remains recommended for people in regular contact with individuals at risk of complications. It is the same for health professionals.