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H1N1 Flu Outbreak: What you need to know about the vaccine?

H1N1 Flu Outbreak: What you need to know about the vaccine?

The early outbreak of the H1N1 flu in 2016, especially in the state of São Paulo, raised many questions from the population regarding the flu vaccine. As a way to immunize the population and contain the outbreak of H1N1 Flu, the Ministry of Health has decided to anticipate the national vaccination campaign against the flu of 2016. Therefore, as of April 11, in São Paulo, the influenza vaccine will begin to be applied in the so-called priority group: pregnant women, women who have just had children (less than 45 days), children from six months to five years old, and the elderly. The other components of the priority group, as carriers of chronic diseases, prison population and Indians will be vaccinated as of April 30 throughout Brazil. The campaign ends on May 20.

How the H1N1 Flu Vaccine

The influenza vaccine used in the public network will be the trivalent vaccine, the same used in the year 2015. It prevents against three types of influenza virus and is composed of three strains (virus species): an A / H1N1 strain, an A / H3N2 strain and a strain B. The Ministry of Health has chosen to vaccinate the population with the trivalent vaccine in the public network due to the prevalence of the virus H1N1. "In view of the outbreak, the Ministry of Health decided to use the trivalent vaccine because the H1N1 virus did not go through changes, so the vaccine remains effective to prevent it," explains pediatrician Isabella Ballalai, president of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations .

Even though the H1N1 virus has not changed, the H3N2 virus and the B strain have changed from 2015 to the present.

Even though the H1N1 virus has not changed, the H3N2 virus and the B strain have changed from 2015 to here . Thus, to protect the population against them, the quadrivalent vaccine (also called tetravalent) was created. The antidote provides the same immunization of the trivalent vaccine (strain A / H1N1, strain A / H3N2 and strain B) and has an additional strain B, making it more complete than trivalent. The quadrivalent vaccine is available only in the private health care network.

The quadrivalent vaccine is produced by private pharmaceutical companies GSK and Sanofi. The version of GSK is licensed by Anvisa in our country for children and adults from three years of age, in a single formulation of 0.5mL. The Sanofi Pasteur quadrivalent vaccine is registered in Anvisa for two formulations: pediatric, for use in children aged six months to three years (0.25mL) and adult, for children and adults over three years of age (0.5mL) )

The trivalent vaccine is as safe as the quadrivalent to protect against the H1N1 virus.

According to the infectologist Celso Granato, Unifesp professor and scientific director of the Fleury laboratory, people who have taken or will still take the trivalent vaccine need not feel insecure about it as both protect against the H1N1 virus, which causes the flu outbreak. What the quadrivalent vaccine does is protect against a type B virus that is very difficult to affect the population.

Who Should Take the H1N1 Flu Vaccine

Due to possible immune system instability some groups have priority for immunization against H1N1 influenza. Among the main groups called priority are babies, pregnant women and women who gave birth less than 45 days ago (called the puerperium or postpartum period).

In children and babies, H1N1 flu tends to manifest itself in more severe than in adults.

In children and infants, H1N1 flu tends to manifest more severely than in adults. "Any disease in this age group is more serious because the child does not yet have the immune system as strong as that of the adult," explains pediatrician Andréa Lucchesi de Carvalho, president of the Pediatric Infectology Committee of Sociedade Mineira de Pediatria.Children between the ages of six months and nine years who are taking the vaccine for the first time should take two doses of the vaccine at intervals of up to three weeks. Children in the same age range (between six months and nine years) who have already taken the vaccine in other years, take only one dose.

Adults and children of any age who have already been vaccinated last year or in previous years and who want to or should protect themselves will need to take the vaccine again. This is because the flu virus undergoes minor modifications from year to year. In addition, the duration of a vaccine is usually around 1 year. "Immunity begins to fall from the eighth month after vaccination, so it's important for people to take care of their health and get a flu shot," says pediatrician Isabela Ballalai

Different symptoms in infants and children

Another issue is that in babies and children the symptoms of H1N1 flu may be slightly different than in adults. "The symptoms are more nonspecific, the little one can only get a little more irritated, with difficulty to feed, but the fever, a symptom common in adults, may be slow to appear," says Andréa Lucchesi de Carvalho. Therefore, it is essential to contact your pediatrician as soon as the child begins to show some health problems.

Vaccination before the baby is 6 months old

Babies under the age of six months should not take the flu vaccine because there is not yet studies of its effects in the first months of life. In addition, it is believed that the flu vaccine before six months of life may not be as effective because the baby's immune system is not fully prepared. At this stage the baby will receive protection against this disease through breastfeeding, provided that the mother has been vaccinated against the flu. This is one of the reasons why it is also essential for pregnant and postpartum women to get vaccinated against H1N1 if they have not been immunized.

Vaccination for pregnant women

H1N1 flu is more of a concern for pregnant women. "Pregnancy is a special moment and it changes the whole body of the woman. Among the changes, pregnant women have greater difficulty breathing because the baby's growth compresses the lungs and there is still a decrease in the immune system's response," notes pediatrician Andrea Lucchesi de Carvalho.

The guideline is for pregnant women to seek vaccination soon after the first trimester of pregnancy, a period recommended by physicians. It is important to make it clear that contracting H1N1 flu in pregnancy will not affect the health of the fetus. If the woman has not taken the vaccine during pregnancy, she should take it during the postpartum period, postpartum.

Chronic and elderly patients

Older patients are among the at-risk group and can be immunized in the Public Network

In addition, patients of any age who present with chronic or severe pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, cirrhosis of the liver and hemoglobinopathies also have priority to take the vaccine. Similarly, immunocompromised or HIV-positive, transplant patients, health professionals and family members who are in contact with the patients mentioned above and people aged 60 years.

Importance of vaccination

Influenza vaccine, both trivalent and provides about 70% efficacy for those who are immunized. "This does not mean that people will not catch any more flu, but if they do, they will have milder symptoms and a stronger immune system," says infectious disease specialist Celso Granato. viral and bacterial pneumonia as well as Acute Respiratory Syndrome

In addition, the vaccine strengthens the body against cases of viral pneumonia, bacterial and also the Acute Respiratory Syndrome. "If the body is weak, it can happen that the virus develops more strongly and trigger problems that can lead to death," says pediatrician Andréa Lucchesi de Carvalho.

One of the possible hypotheses that explain the flu outbreak is that the population's immune system was "unaccustomed" to creating antibodies against the H1N1 virus. "Last year there have been flu shots, which may have led to a drop in the population's immune defenses and triggered an outbreak this year," Granato said. He says he does not believe that the traffic of people coming from the northern hemisphere may be the only hypothesis for the increase in cases of mainly because people are traveling less.

Possible side effects

Both the trivalent and the quadrivalent vaccine are applied intramuscularly. In view of this it can happen that the region gets a bit sensitive in the day. Some people may also experience episodes of fever and malaise within the first 24 hours.

It is common for people to think the vaccine causes flu. According to experts, this is not true, as the antidote is made with the entire virus inactive, in other words, dead. Therefore, there would be no way the vaccine caused the flu. "What happens is that the influenza virus is circulating in the air and it can happen that the person was incubated with it during the period when the vaccine was taken," explains pediatrician Isabella. It is important to note that the immune response is not immediate and the body only begins to produce antibodies against influenza within two to three weeks after immunization.

Contraindication

Persons who are hypersensitive to the egg can not take the because the component is part of the antidote. And patients who have had an anaphylactic reaction need to be vaccinated in a hospital setting.

Where to find

The trivalent vaccine can be found in the public network. The quadrivalent vaccine is available in laboratories and private clinics.

The trivalent vaccine can be found in the public network at vaccination centers and basic health units. It is important to emphasize that only the people belonging to the priority group can take the vaccine in the public network. Those who are not in the priority group and want to take the vaccine can find it in private clinics and laboratories.

It is important to note that antidotes are not available at health clinics all year round. Therefore, whoever is to vaccinate in the public network needs to be aware of the vaccination schedule of the Ministry of Health, which starts on April 30 and ends on May 20. States like São Paulo, opted to anticipate vaccination for April 11 in the capital and metropolitan region.

Outbreak yes, epidemic not

In an interview, the municipal secretary of Health, Alexandre Padilha reported that we are far from an epidemic situation of the H1N1 flu and that the increase in people who have manifested the flu is in a specific place.

According to him, as a way to fight the increased circulation of the virus in the city, the secretariat is alerting health professionals about these syndromes , especially H1N1, and to redouble their attention with pregnant women, patients with heart disease or with diabetes. In addition, it is also important for public health to provide Tamiflu (medicine to treat H1N1 flu).

For the infectious disease worker Celso Granato, people have been overexcited about the H1N1 virus. "Immunization is the best way to prevent H1N1 virus, but it is important to remember that the vaccine is essential mainly for the at-risk population (priority groups). If people who are not part of this group want to take it, it will be very good But not taking the flu vaccine does not represent a death sentence, "he warned.Influenza A / H1N1 virus (initially called swine flu) is a disease transmitted from person to person through respiratory secretions, mainly through coughing or sneezing. Transmission usually occurs when there is contact, especially indoors. If transmission occurs the symptoms can begin within three to seven days after contact, usually with a high fever, around 38 ° C, coryza, nasal, sneezing and muscle pain. Despite the popular name for swine flu there is no record of transmission of H1N1 flu to people by eating pork.


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