The Nacimbio holding of the Rostec State Corporation has already begun shipping flu vaccines.
The first phase, which will be completed by early September, will deliver 34.5 million vaccine doses. Last year, Rostec donated over 62 million doses to medical institutions. According to Rospotrebnadzor, this, among other things, reduced the incidence of influenza by almost 25%. Read about why annual flu vaccination is necessary, what strains are vaccinated against during the 2019-2020 flu season, and where to get a free vaccination.
Watch out for the flu!
Acute respiratory viral infections, which include the familiar flu, are the most common diseases in the world. In Russia alone, about 35 million patients with influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections are recorded every year. Influenza often spreads in epidemics, with the disease affecting 10-20% of the population. Older people, who are statistically more susceptible to infection, are especially affected by ARVI epidemics.
For most, the flu is just an unpleasant illness that goes away in about a week, even without medical help. But there is a risk group, and for them the disease can lead to a sad outcome. Every year, worldwide, influenza claims from 250 to 500 thousand lives, and the disease is complicated in about 4 million people.
Risk factors for developing complications of influenza include age, immune status, and the presence of other diseases. Thus, due to the age characteristics of the body, the flu is most often caught by children under 3 years of age and adults over 65 years of age. Young children simply do not have immunity against influenza because they have not yet been exposed to the disease. And in older people, the incidence is 5-10 times higher than in other ages. By the way, for those over 65, the flu vaccine not only prevents the disease, but also reduces the incidence of heart attacks and strokes.
The presence of various chronic diseases, diseases of the central nervous system, as well as a history of organ or tissue transplantation make you more prone to contracting the flu. People with weakened or compromised immune systems naturally get the flu more often. If you work in medical or educational institutions, in transport, or come into contact with a large number of people, you are at risk.
Preparation rules
Although you can often hear that you should not prepare for a flu shot, some formalities are still worth following. Thus, it is recommended to refuse vaccination if you feel the first signs of illness: sore throat, slight nasal congestion, sneezing frequently, etc. A contraindication to vaccination is also an exacerbation of a chronic disease. Before vaccination, an examination by a therapist or pediatrician is also required. After it, you should take care, because you may experience slight malaise, expressed in chills, weakness, and sweating. Therefore, you should not sit in a hot bath (showering is not contraindicated), go for long walks, and you should also postpone going to public places (cafes, cinemas, etc.).
Those who suffer from an allergy to chicken protein (it is part of vaccines) should avoid subunit (containing individual components of pathogenic microorganisms) and split vaccines. Vaccination is prescribed to them individually and is carried out only under the supervision of a doctor and under the cover of antiallergic drugs.
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Vaccination is the best immunity training
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza. The vaccine contains an attenuated influenza virus, on which our immunity is “trained” to suppress the real disease. Influenza campaigns have been running for over 60 years and have proven their effectiveness. Timely use of the vaccine reduces the incidence of influenza by 70-90% among healthy people under 65 years of age and reduces the likelihood of complications by 30-70% for people over 65 years of age.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends getting vaccinated against influenza annually, as vaccinated immunity weakens over time and new types of the virus appear. Vaccination for Russian citizens is free. It is estimated that it is more profitable for the state to invest money in vaccines and prevent influenza, since the consequences of the epidemic can be much more expensive.
Traditionally, the peak of the spread of influenza occurs in the winter - at the end of January and beginning of February. The wave may begin as early as November, and given the fact that the body takes 2-4 weeks to develop immunity after vaccination, vaccination can be done from the beginning of autumn.
Every year, WHO makes a forecast about possible influenza strains that will be active in the coming season. This year's vaccines included the A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1) pdm09-like virus; A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)-like virus; and B/Colorado/06/2017-like virus (lineage B/Victoria/2/87). Quadrivalent vaccines containing two influenza B viruses include an additional B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus. In Moscow, you can get vaccinated against the flu from the beginning of September at any clinic, as well as at multifunctional and mobile points near metro stations.
It is important to know that there are contraindications against vaccination, which are divided into temporary and absolute. Absolute ones include a tendency to allergic reactions, bronchial asthma and some other diseases. A temporary exemption from vaccination is given, for example, by acute respiratory viral infections.
Unfortunately, the vaccine will not completely protect against the flu. Anyone vaccinated can get sick. But vaccination significantly eases the course of the disease and reduces the risk of complications. Therefore, in addition to vaccination, one should not forget about other methods of prevention. These are the well-known ventilation of rooms, frequent hand washing, general strengthening of the body and limiting contact with sick people.
Effectiveness of influenza vaccines
In accordance with the Vaxigrip instructions, the drug contains active components cultured on embryos of healthy chickens. They are split influenza viruses, represented by strains “A” and “B”, the composition of which is updated every year in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
This means that every year Sanofi specialists adapt the vaccine to those orthomyxoviruses that are most active during this period. This is important because there are many varieties, mutations occur quickly, and the vaccine can only protect against certain types.
Despite the fact that there is no data confirming this fact yet, many experts note that in case of infection with another influenza virus, the vaccinated patient feels much better and the disease is much easier.
"Nacimbio": protecting the country's immunity
Immunization of the population is carried out in accordance with the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations, formed by the Ministry of Health. The only supplier of vaccines for the implementation of the schedule in Russia is the National Immunobiological - a pharmaceutical holding within the Rostec State Corporation.
In the 2017-2018 season. Nacimbio donated more than 62 million doses of vaccines produced entirely from Russian raw materials for the nationwide vaccination campaign against influenza and ARVI. According to Rospotrebnadzor, vaccination has reduced the incidence of influenza by 24.5%, and ARVI by 5% compared to 2021.
Vaccination is widely carried out in educational institutions, so the first batch of vaccines should be shipped by the beginning of the school year. As part of the first stage, Nacimbio will supply 34.5 million doses of vaccines to the regions, which is 11% more than last year. The second stage of deliveries starts in early October.
To prevent influenza, Nacimbio supplies Sovigripp and Ultrix vaccines, which are produced by NPO Microgen and Fort LLC, which are part of the holding.
Where can you get vaccinated?
Only health care workers can administer the vaccine, so the number of places where you can get the flu vaccine is limited. As a rule, these are state medical and educational institutions.
Children under 18 years of age must obtain the written consent of one of their parents for immunization. Pregnant women are “vaccinated” only in clinics. Vaccination is recommended for pregnant women, as they are at risk for influenza along with children under 5 years of age and the elderly, however, the first trimester of pregnancy is a contraindication for vaccination.
In major cities
In the cities of Russia, flu vaccinations are received free of charge and on a voluntary basis in adult and children's clinics at the place of residence, in kindergartens, schools, colleges and medical centers of universities. You can contact private medical institutions that also provide vaccination services at home or in the workplace for a fee.
In Moscow
In 2021, in Moscow, everyone will be vaccinated against the flu not only in clinics, but also in mobile centers near metro stations, MCC and railway platforms, as well as in. Before vaccination, you will need to complete a survey and be informed about contraindications and side effects of the vaccine, and have your passport and insurance policy with you. More detailed information about the start of vaccination and its locations can be found on the website of the Moscow Department of Health.
In populated areas without clinics
Residents of villages and villages where there are no medical facilities can also get vaccinated against influenza. For settlements without clinics, mobile vaccination points are provided: doctors go to rural areas to vaccinate local residents.
In educational institutions
Every autumn, an organized flu vaccination campaign takes place in kindergartens, schools and universities in Russia. Before vaccination, you will need to fill out a form and sign an information consent. Just like in a clinic, a medical professional should tell you what drug you are being vaccinated with, what the side effects and contraindications are.
All employees of educational institutions and representatives of certain other professions whose work involves an increased risk of infection are subject to mandatory vaccination. If the vaccine is refused, the employer must suspend such employee from work without pay. For students, vaccination is recommended. A schoolchild or student does not have the right to be suspended from classes, but they can refuse admission to a school or university if there is a threat of an epidemic in the region.
At the place of work
Vaccination at the place of work is usually provided for representatives of professions associated with an increased risk of infection. Among them: agricultural workers, educational workers, medical workers, veterinarians, etc. Military personnel can get vaccinated at work. Some large commercial companies also give their employees this opportunity.
Vaccination in a private clinic
When visiting a private clinic, you can immediately sign up for vaccination. The doctor's examination before vaccination and the procedure itself take 15–30 minutes. You only need to bring your passport with you.
In the case of a private clinic, you can find out before the procedure which vaccines are available and read their composition. Doctors advise choosing a vaccine that contains antigens (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) of each strain of the virus in an amount of 15 mcg. In addition, some vaccines protect not against three serotypes of the pathogen (two strains of influenza A and one of influenza B), but against four (two strains of each type).
Information about the composition of vaccines can also be found in the vaccination office. Before vaccination, the doctor should tell you about the need for vaccination and about possible reactions after its administration.
Important! In some private clinics, you can ask to administer a vaccine purchased at a pharmacy yourself. It is important to understand that vaccines must be stored at a certain temperature (from 2 to 8 ℃) and transported correctly. If the patient buys the vaccine himself and then brings it to a medical facility, the risks of violation of the cold regime increase. Therefore, it is better to choose vaccination in a vaccination office.
