Influenza is a contagious, rapidly spreading infectious disease. Often leads to complications as a result of modification of the virus. Taking into account this feature of the pathogen, new types of vaccines are developed every year. The most effective are Sovigripp and Grippol plus. Let's look at their differences, and which is better to use for adults and children as flu prevention.
What is the difference between Sovigrippa and Grippol plus
Sovigripp is a domestic pharmaceutical product to combat viral infection. Applicable since 2013. The drug contains influenza strains of medium activity. Every year, the vaccine undergoes variability as a result of the antigenic mutation of the pathogen, which makes it possible to increase its effectiveness in eliminating pathogenic flora.
The active and auxiliary components are:
- Hemagglutinin of different types of virus.
- Thiomersal in combination with the mercury emblem.
- Sovidon.
- A buffer mixture containing sodium and potassium hydrogen phosphates, potassium dihydrogen phosphate and clean water.
The pharmacological agent is intended for parenteral administration into the muscle. This is the buttock, thigh or shoulder area.
Grippol Plus is a Russian liquid vaccine in the form of an injection solution. Refers to third generation vaccination drugs. Therefore, the active component of the product is the virus antigens, neutralized by chemical means. They rarely cause allergy symptoms.
The vaccine contains glycoproteins from several strains of influenza A and B types. Excipients are azoximer bromide and a phosphate-salt mixture. The vaccine is used for subcutaneous and intramuscular administration.
As for preservatives, they are used when dispensing large vials of the drug, which helps eliminate microbial contamination. Thus, Sovigrippa uses thiomersal with ethyl mercury, and the Grippol plus vaccine contains no chemical additives at all.
What vaccines are available in Russia?
In 2021, the vaccination campaign in our country began on September 1. It will last all autumn, but you can get vaccinated later - in winter. The main thing is that the necessary vaccine can be found in clinics, city or private.
Now Russians have access to both domestic and imported vaccine preparations. They all differ in composition: the number of antigens, the presence of adjuvants (that is, immune response enhancers) and preservatives.
What are flu vaccines made of? To make vaccines, scientists grow influenza viruses in chicken eggs or cell cultures. The viruses are then isolated and purified. Purified and inactivated viruses or their individual parts (killed virus fragments or surface viral antigens - hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) are the main component of most types of influenza vaccinations. Much less commonly, influenza vaccines are based on a live, weakened virus. In this case, the vaccination is not given in the shoulder, but intranasally. Vaccines may also contain antibiotics, preservatives, and substances that enhance the effect of vaccines on the immune system (adjuvants). Some manufacturers do without the latter. Detailed information about the composition can be found in the instructions for the drugs.
For a healthy person there is no difference in vaccines. Doctors advise paying attention first of all to the valency of the drug, that is, to the number of strains of the influenza virus from which it will protect. Quadrivalent (or quadrivalent) vaccines are considered the best. They contain four strains of influenza virus: two strains of type A and two strains of type B.
The second point is the amount of viral antigens in the vaccine dose. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that manufacturers include at least 15 mcg of antigen (hemagglutinin) of each strain of the virus. It is this amount that leads to the formation of the best defense by the immune system.
Important! The idea that the flu shot infects a person with the virus is false. Vaccination is a way of training the body before encountering a real pathogen. In addition, inactivated vaccines are now used, which do not contain live virus. Live influenza vaccines, which can cause symptoms of the influenza virus after they are administered, are rarely used today.
How and where to get vaccinated
The flu vaccination in Russia can be done free of charge in local clinics, kindergartens, schools and colleges, or for money in private medical institutions. Moscow is also organizing mobile vaccination points, which are installed near the metro or on crowded streets.
In order to receive the vaccine, you should make an appointment with a general practitioner, have your passport and compulsory medical insurance policy with you. You will need to sign a medical consent for vaccination on site. Before vaccination, you can and should ask your doctor about the available vaccines and the difference between them. The doctor will tell you and help you choose. After vaccination, the patient is given a vaccination certificate, which indicates the date of vaccination and the name of the vaccine.
Please note that influenza vaccination has a number of absolute (egg white allergy, strong reactions to previous doses of the vaccine) and temporary contraindications . If you have an aggravated chronic disease (for example, diabetes, asthma), acute respiratory viral infections, intestinal infections or severe seasonal allergies, the vaccine is not given. After recovery or during remission of a chronic disease, you can get vaccinated against influenza.
“Among those who should not get the flu vaccine:
- people allergic to egg whites (chicken embryos are used in the production of many influenza vaccines);
- people with severe reactions and post-vaccination complications after administration of previous doses of the vaccine. This is a fairly rare occurrence, however, if there are negative reactions to the first dose of the vaccine, this drug is not recommended to be used in the future.”
Ekaterina Stepanova, PhD, infectious disease doctor
What vaccines can usually be found in the clinic?
In clinics, they use three-component drugs of domestic production “Sovigripp” (manufactured by a branch of JSC NPO Microgen) and “Grippol Plus” (). These are inactivated vaccines and do not contain live virus.
Sovigripp is a three-component subunit vaccine. Protects against three strains of the virus that are recommended by WHO:
- subtype A(H1N1) and subtype A(H3N2) (5 μg antigen for each strain);
- type B (antigen in the amount of 11 μg).
Available in two forms: with a preservative (thiomersal) and without a preservative. Contains an adjuvant - sovidone. The minimum age for vaccination is 6 months (preservative-free version).
"Grippol Plus" is a trivalent inactivated subunit adjuvanted vaccine. It contains 5 μg of influenza virus antigens of three strains that are recommended by WHO (two type A strains (H1N1 and H3N2) and one type B strain).
The adjuvant in the Grippol Plus vaccine is polyoxidonium. The drug does not contain preservatives. The minimum age for vaccination is 6 months.
Other Russian-made vaccines
The list of influenza vaccines in Russia also includes other domestic drugs: Ultrix (trivalent), Ultrix Quardi (tetravalent) and Flu-M (trivalent split vaccine). Ultrix is produced by a biopharmaceutical company owned by the Rostec state corporation (through the Nacimbio holding) and the Marathon Group company. "Flu-M" is a drug from the St. Petersburg Research Institute of Vaccines and Serums.
Are imported ones better than domestic ones?
All seasonal flu vaccines contain the same strains of the virus. WHO annually assesses the spread of wild viruses and, based on forecasts of which strains will most actively attack people during the coming season, makes recommendations on the composition of drugs.
Quadrivalent vaccines are recognized as the best vaccines. They protect against two strains of the virus, type A and two, type B. Doctors consider such drugs to be more complete and, when choosing between trivalent foreign and quadrivalent Russian, advise using the latter. At the same time, specialists’ trust in Russian vaccines is often lower than in foreign ones. A large role in this is played by limited clinical trial data confirming the effectiveness of certain Russian vaccines, as well as the low content of antigens in some domestic drugs.
Drugs in descending order of preference (starting with the best)
- Vaxigrip. Protects against three strains of influenza (trivalent), contains 15 mcg of antigens, approved from the age of 6 months.
- Ultrix Quadri. The only Russian quadrivalent (this is better than trivalent) vaccine, containing 15 mcg of antigens, is approved from 6 years of age.
- Ultrix. The Russian vaccine contains 15 mcg of antigens and protects against three strains. Allowed from 6 months.
- Flu-M. Similar to Ultrix, but allowed from 18 years of age.
The following are vaccines containing antigens less than 15 mcg:
- Grippol Quadrivalent. The quadrivalent Russian vaccine contains 5 mcg of antigens and is approved for people aged 18 years and older.
- Grippol plus and Sovigripp. Trivalent Russian vaccines contain 5 mcg of antigens and are approved from 6 months.
Sergei Butriy, pediatrician
It is worth mentioning separately about the use of adjuvants in some Russian vaccines, the effectiveness of which is still disputed . Among them:
- polyoxidonium (azoximer bromide), is part of the Grippol Plus vaccine and is a synthetic immunomodulator,
- Sovidon is part of the Sovigripp vaccine.
About the difference between domestic and foreign vaccines and expert opinions on this matter
Which vaccine is more effective against influenza?
The therapeutic effect of Grippol plus and Sovigrippa is no different.
According to the opinion of many doctors, most are inclined to choose Sovigrippa. This is due to the wide range of therapeutic effects and few side effects.
Laboratory studies confirm the full compliance of vaccines with medical requirements.
The therapeutic duration of the products does not differ. Antiviral activity is noted 2-3 days after vaccination. The protective properties of pharmaceuticals last up to 6-12 months.
Vaccination rules
The drugs Sovigripp and Grippol plus are used at the same time. Traditionally, vaccination is carried out in the off-season, when the risks of epidemic activity increase.
The drug is used for parenteral administration. The main injection sites are the muscles of the thigh, shoulder and, less commonly, the buttock.
The dosage depends on age:
- From 6 months to 3 years - 0.25 ml twice with a break of 4 weeks, if vaccination is carried out for the first time. Previously vaccinated children receive a single injection with a dosage of 0.5 ml.
- Children over 3 years old and adults - 0.5 ml 1 time.
- Persons with immunodeficiency - 0.5 ml 2 times with an interval of 4 weeks.
Indications and contraindications
The flu vaccine is not considered mandatory in the Russian Federation, but it is advisable to do it from 6 months. Until this age, babies are protected by “maternal” immunity. But from the age of six months, children are susceptible to viral attacks. Up to 3 years of age, vaccinations are offered at the clinic. But for schoolchildren and preschoolers, the decision must be made by parents. Therefore, they are required to provide written consent or refusal.
It is especially important to vaccinate children at risk. This applies to those who are often sick, children with chronic diseases, after the flu and ARVI. It is advisable to perform the procedure for those who often have to be in crowded places.
Important!
The drug with a preservative is prohibited for minors. The vaccine is used only if there is no allergy to chicken protein. Children under 6 months should not be vaccinated. If there are signs of the disease, the drug can worsen the condition.
Safety and side effects
Sovigripp and Grippol plus are the most effective and safest drugs on the Russian market. This property of vaccines is explained by the reduction in the pathogenic effects of influenza viruses due to chemical agents.
But despite this, vaccines can cause the following side effects:
- Signs of an influenza infection include fever, cough, runny nose and malaise.
- Headache.
- Allergic manifestations in the form of itching, rash and hyperemia.
- Formation of a limited infiltrate in the injection area.
- Gastrointestinal disorders.
Severe side effects occur less often. These are erythema nodosum, neuralgia and paresthesia.
Immunization is highly not recommended in case of individual intolerance to chicken protein, severe disease conditions and the appearance of undesirable symptoms after the first vaccination.
Which is better - Grippol plus or Sovigripp
There is no particular difference between the Grippol Plus and Sovigripp vaccines. Taking into account all the above information, we can conclude that pharmacological agents have a similar composition and side effects.
Both drugs are made in Russia, have a high degree of purification and fully comply with medical criteria.
The cost of a single dose of Sovigrippa is 200-250 rubles. The price of Grippol Plus is 2 times higher for a similar dosage and equals 430 rubles.
According to reviews, patients prefer the Sovigripp vaccine, noting its high effectiveness. Comparing the two drugs, Grippol plus is somewhat inferior to Sovigripp in quality and price.
Benefits of the medication
The drug has a high degree of protection, which is confirmed by tests. This is due to the presence of Sovidon, which strengthens the immune system. Thanks to the special composition, long-lasting protection is ensured. This is exactly what parental reviews indicate. According to Komarovsky, the Sovigripp vaccine for children can protect for up to 6-9 months. This is enough to prevent the child from developing a dangerous disease.
The advantage of the drug is the absence of a preservative, so negative reactions occur very rarely. Should I doubt the safety of the product? Yes, if you consider that the same vaccine is administered during pregnancy.
Which vaccine is suitable for children?
Both one and the other vaccines are completely identical. Regular monitoring by Roszdravnadzor allows us to cast aside all doubts about their safety. Therefore, both products are ideal for immunizing children.
Every year, changes occur in the composition of medications, which improves their quality and effectiveness in preventing influenza.
Everyone needs to be vaccinated - children and adults. The drugs have no toxic effects, so immunization is not prohibited during pregnancy. It is impossible to fully judge the effectiveness of the vaccine. Experts recommend getting vaccinated every year to prevent infection and complications during a flu epidemic.
In what cases is Sovigripp contraindicated?
Naturally, Sovigflu needs to be vaccinated when a person is absolutely healthy, ideally, to take a clinical blood test to be 100% sure. But, as a rule, we limit ourselves to measuring body temperature. I propose to consider in detail those cases when Sovigripp is contraindicated:
- fever, malaise;
- allergy;
- chronic diseases;
- low immunity.
The contraindications are quite adequate, as with most vaccines. In principle, Sovigripp is not very different from imported analogues. Regarding the indications, it is much simpler, it is one thing - the desire to protect oneself from the influenza virus.
In addition, the reviews from doctors are almost all on the side of Sovigripp. Experts insist on vaccination to avoid complications after illness.
“Unfortunately, influenza outbreaks are a regular occurrence, and a vaccine can reduce its scale like nothing else.
If every adult citizen adhered to regular vaccinations, we would forget about the flu. Sovigripp is a proven domestically produced vaccine; we have been using it for many years and are quite satisfied with the results. There are no side effects, and if they occur, they occur only in isolated cases” Anton Grigorievich, infectious disease doctor, Moscow
I agree with the opinion of doctors, and I have never been against vaccinations. But reviews of side effects are more common, which scared me.
