On the 20th, one day before the free flu (influenza) vaccination, staff from the Infectious Disease Prevention Team check the quantity of additional vaccines to be supplied to medical institutions at the inoculation room at the Buk-gu Public Health Center in Gwangju. (Provided by Buk-gu, Gwangju) 202.9.20/News 1 ⓒ News1 Reporter Jung Da-um
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(Seoul=News 1) Reporter Youngmi Kwon = The 75-year-old influenza vaccination will start from the 12th, with the H3N2 virus, the strongest type among influenza viruses, expected to circulate this winter.
This year’s national influenza vaccination target is △Children 6 months to 13 years old (born between 2009 and August 31, 2022) △ Pregnant women △ Senior citizens aged 65 and over (born before December 31, 1957).
On the 21st of last month, children between the ages of 6 months and 9 years of age who received two doses of the flu vaccine for the first time in their lives were vaccinated. On the 5th, it was expanded to children aged 6 months to 13 years old and pregnant women.
Seniors aged 75 and over can receive the vaccine from 12 days, 70 to 74 years old from 17 days, and 65 to 69 years old from 20 days. The deadline for vaccination for these elderly people is December 31st.
Influenza usually occurs between November and April, and is transmitted by droplets from the respiratory tract of an infected patient.
The main symptoms include high fever (above 38 degrees), dry cough, sore throat, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and other complications such as otitis media and pneumonia.
According to experts, the most likely influenza virus to be circulating this winter is type A H3N2, which is known to be the most toxic.
Influenza viruses are divided into four main types: type A (H1N1, H3N2) and type B (Yamagata, Victoria). Influenza A is more likely to spread in the winter because the symptoms are stronger and the mutations are severe.
Type A H1N1 is a descendant of the Spanish flu. The H1N1 influenza that occurred in 2009 also belongs to type A H1N1. Type A H3N2 is a descendant of the so-called ‘Hong Kong Flu’, which began to spread in Hong Kong in 1968.
Influenza A is prevalent from autumn to winter, while influenza B is a spring flu, and it is characterized by an outbreak around March. It is less virulent than type A virus, so the possibility of mortality or complications is low.
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