With the arrival of the cold, the flu vaccination season also begins. But when exactly should we get vaccinated?
In Spain, the vaccination campaign season always begins in mid-September and mid-October. Why in these months? Because the vaccine takes between 2 and 6 weeks to produce antibodies. The goal is to be immunized by the end of December or even the beginning of January, which is when the strongest bouts of flu occur.
What does a flu vaccine contain?
Many vaccines for flu and other viruses contain similar ingredients. The purpose of each is to make the vaccine effective or to ensure that it is safe. And make no mistake, many studies over the years have shown flu vaccines to be safe. It is the best way to avoid getting the flu and spreading it to other people. The flu vaccine contains small amounts of the viruses it protects against – killed viruses – (as well as formaldehyde, thimerosal, aluminum salts, chicken egg proteins, gelatin). The presence of these viruses in the vaccine activates the body’s natural defense mechanism to produce antibodies to fight them. This means that the body recognizes them quickly when exposed to disease in “real life.”
Will I get the flu or a bad cold when I get the vaccine?
It is one of the most common questions regarding the flu vaccine. In fact, it is a common belief to think that we are going to have a very bad flu after getting the flu vaccine. The Ministry of Health is resounding: it is not true. It is an urban legend. The vaccine immunizes us against a series of viruses but since immunity against the virus takes several weeks to develop, we can contract the virus just before or after injecting ourselves and therefore get the flu. This is where the false belief comes from catching the flu days after getting vaccinated.
What are the risk groups?
The pulmonologists of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, SERPA, state that influenza vaccination is the most effective global measure to reduce morbidity and mortality due to complications of influenza in chronic respiratory patients. Thus, vaccines can prevent 50% of the 2,000 – 3,000 deaths that occur annually in Spain due to complications derived from the flu and their efficacy -although it varies depending on the immune status- ranges between 70 and 90% of cases in adults and 80% in children. The youngest, the elderly, people with a chronic disease or immunodeficiency diseases, are the most affected by the influenza virus and make up the population group most at risk. Vaccination is also recommended for pregnant women.
How to request the vaccine in the Social Security?
People who are part of the groups for which vaccination is recommended (population at risk) will be given the vaccine free of charge at health centers. That is, we have to go to our nearest Health Center to request it. Vaccination at home will be exclusively for those patients at risk who cannot go to the Social Security center.
And remember, even if they have similar symptoms, the flu shot does not protect against the cold. They are different infections caused by different viruses.
