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Fever The season has started early this year, and we’re prepared for it to get worse. Whether you’ve already gotten vaccinated or are thinking about getting vaccinated, here are answers to some of your questions.
Do I have to pay for the flu vaccine?
In the UK, people who are at higher risk of becoming seriously ill from flu are given priority for free flu vaccine,
This includes people over the age of 65 and those with weakened immune systems, as well as health and social care workers. This also includes those people who are at higher risk of spreading the virus to a vulnerable person. If you are not on this list, you can choose to pay for the flu vaccine at some pharmacies.
Are there any groups that should not get the flu vaccine this year?
The only reason not to get a flu vaccine is if you have had a life-threatening allergy to any of the vaccine ingredients. There are different types of flu vaccines, and some use chickens’ eggs in the manufacturing process. If you are allergic to eggs, tell the person giving you the flu vaccine, as they will make sure the egg you have is safe for you.
How long does it take for the flu vaccine to become effective?
The flu vaccine takes about two weeks to reach peak effectiveness.
Why so late? Yours immune system Time is required to produce protective antibodies against influenza Virus in vaccine.
If I get the flu a few days after getting the vaccine, is it because I already had the flu?
After you catch the flu virus, it usually hides in your body for a few days before you show symptoms. Therefore, it is possible to catch the flu and then get vaccinated without knowing that you are infected because you have not yet developed symptoms.
This is an absolutely inauspicious time. Although it is not dangerous, getting the vaccine may make you feel worse if you have the flu. If you feel unwell due to a fever, you should delay getting a flu vaccine until you feel better.
Does vaccination with more virulent flu strains make you feel more unwell?
There are a few different types of flu vaccines available, but none of the vaccines contain a virus that is capable of attacking you. Getting vaccinated is a bit like showing off immune system A picture of the influenza virus to help you know what to recognize and allows you to practice fighting the virus before catching it from someone else.
It is normal to feel a little unwell for 24 hours after a flu vaccine. In some years, the influenza virus causing the infection is more aggressive than usual, but the “picture” of the virus in the vaccine is already weak, so it will not cause a stronger reaction.
Does taking a Covid booster around the same time affect the effectiveness of the flu vaccine or the risk of side effects?
It is safe to get the COVID and flu vaccines at the same time, and both vaccines will still be effective. If people do develop side effects, they are usually very mild and may include feeling shaky and having pain in the arm. This usually lasts for less than 24 hours.
There is no good evidence that shows you will have a higher risk of side effects by getting both vaccines at the same time than separately.
About the author
Katherine Wilson is Clinical Research Fellow in Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology at the University of Glasgow.
This article is republished from Conversation Under Creative Commons license. read the original article,
How long does protection usually last, and when is the best time to get vaccinated?
The flu vaccine will protect you for about three months. Ideally, you’ll get the vaccine at the beginning of winter so you’re protected before you’re exposed to the flu. But you don’t want it too early, or the protection may wear off before winter is over. October or November is usually the best time to have a flu jab.
If I have recently had the flu, do I still need the vaccine?
Each winter, different strains of flu spread through the population. The flu jab is called “trivalent”, meaning it will protect against three different strains of influenza. Even if you’ve already had the flu this winter, it’s a good idea to get a flu vaccine because it will protect you from other types.
How does the vaccine work for people with weakened immune systems? Will I still get good protection?
If you have a weak immune system, you have a higher risk of getting sick with the flu. Usually, a medical condition or specific medications make it harder for your immune system to produce strong antibodies that can successfully attack the flu virus. However, immune suppression exists on a wide spectrum, and yet most people will still be protected by the flu vaccine.
If you are an older adult, your immune response to influenza is often less effective, so you will be offered a stronger dose of influenza vaccine to boost your response.
To stay safe, it’s important to try to avoid getting the flu in the first place. In addition to staying away from unwell people and using measures like face masks, you should also encourage your household members and caregivers to get a flu vaccine. This adds an extra layer of security for you.
Why should I get the flu vaccine this year?
Although the flu jab doesn’t stop you from getting flu, it does make it less likely that you will get very sick. Importantly, it also reduces the chance of you spreading the flu to another susceptible person.
How will we know which strain of flu is likely to hit the UK and how well does this system work?
Flu viruses constantly develop changes to the proteins on their surface – the parts that are recognized by our immune system. Throughout the year, scientists have been working together in an international team, coordinated by World Health OrganizationTo predict what the virus might look like in time to create vaccines before flu season starts.
Fortunately, flu is seasonal, and not every country experiences the season at the same time: this gives scientists a head start. They look at the flu virus that is spreading in the Southern Hemisphere during winter in June and July – especially in Australia. This gives them an early idea of what the virus will look like when it moves into the Northern Hemisphere and begins to spread across the UK during our winter.
Information from our flu season this winter will be used to update flu vaccines for people in the Southern Hemisphere before their next winter. This cycle continues every year to try to make the flu vaccine as effective as possible.
This system generally works well, but because there is an element of unpredictability, some years the vaccine is not as good for the virus as others. Despite this, it is worth getting the vaccine, even if it is not a perfect match, because it will protect you from severe disease and from spreading the virus to others, even more than if you have not been vaccinated.