2023-08-03 08:12:00
The flu – also called influenza – is caused by influenza viruses triggered. Getting sick with the flu should be taken seriously as it can sometimes be life-threatening.
We will tell you when vaccination is recommended and what you should know regarding influenza.
Things to know regarding the flu
Influenza is one acute respiratory disease. In contrast to so-called flu infections or colds, it is triggered by flu viruses. Especially in the winter months the flu is widespread in Germany in various degrees of severity. An infection occurs from human to human, by airborne droplets containing the virus or by touching hands that have previously come into contact with the virus-containing secretion. Transmission can also occur via objects contaminated with the pathogen, such as toys or door handles. As a rule, one is contagious for regarding a week following the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease. An exception are children or people with a weakened immune system, who Excrete pathogens longer. It is important to observe the hygiene measures in particular in the event of illness and to to avoid further spread. This includes washing your hands regularly, sneezing and coughing in the crook of your arm and staying at home during the illness phase.
Because the flu viruses constantly changing and new variants form, the corresponding vaccine is also adapted almost every year. Typical symptoms of an infection are, for example, a sudden feeling of illness, accompanied by fever, sore throat and dry cough, often also muscle, joint, back or headache pains. Nausea and loss of appetite are also common features of the disease. How long the symptoms last and how severe they are varies from person to person. While an uncomplicated illness usually lasts only 5 to 7 days, a serious illness can, in the worst case, lead to death. Possible complications are pneumonia and in children also middle ear infections. Inflammation of the brain or heart muscle is less common. These complications, which can be caused by the flu virus, are usually particularly feared.
A high risk Older people, pregnant women and people with a chronic underlying disease are responsible for a severe course of the disease. To protect yourself once morest the flu, vaccination is recommended. As a rule, the vaccination is given annually in October or November administered. The reason for the booster vaccination is that every year the vaccine is adapted to possible new variants of the influenza virus.
STIKO recommendations
Die Standing Vaccination Committee (STIKO) speaks no general influenza vaccination recommendation out of. Instead, the recommendation is limited to those people who are at high risk of becoming seriously ill. The STIKO therefore recommends vaccination for the following groups of people:
The STIKO does not make any general vaccination recommendations.
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People who 60 years and older are
pregnant women from the second trimester of pregnancy. If there is a chronic underlying disease, children, adolescents and adults should be involved from the first trimester of pregnancy increased health risk by an underlying condition. This means, for example, chronic diseases of the respiratory organs, heart or circulatory diseases, liver or kidney diseases, diabetes or other metabolic diseases, chronic neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, congenital or later acquired immune system disorders or an HIV infection Employees and residents of old people’s or nursing homes persons due to the professional environment have an increased risk of infecting themselves and others. This includes, for example, medical staff or staff in facilities with high public traffic
The reason the recommendation doesn’t include healthy children and adults under 60 is because they the flu usually without serious complications runs. In principle, however, this does not mean that other people are advised once morest vaccination.
Vaccination recommendations for children, the protective effect and the vaccines
In a few EU countrieslike Finland, Lithuania or Slovakia, will have a flu shot also recommended for healthy children. However, there is no generalized vaccination recommendation for all children and adolescents here either. Corresponding recommendations are made in the countries for certain age groups healthy children, such as those aged 6 months to 11 years. The fact that the countries make different vaccination recommendations than Germany is due to different factors strategies to prevent influenza diseases. Germany is strategically sticking to issuing a recommendation for those who increased risk of severe disease progression because they particularly benefit from vaccination. In other countries, the vaccination recommendation for healthy children is given, for example, for the reason that children are often the main source of infection and the overall circulation of the virus is therefore to be reduced. At present, the STIKO does not make a generalized recommendation or one for healthy children because the existing data is not yet comprehensive enough.
Die Stiftung Warentest takes a different stance on influenza vaccination than STIKO: the former postulates that it makes sense to protect every child from the flu virus by vaccination. This is due to the fact that children have a lot of social contacts, for example in kindergarten or at school and within the family. In addition, especially smaller children often do not think regarding the hygiene measures. Vaccination would therefore not only protect the child from an influenza epidemic, but also protect others.
The Robert Koch Institute notes that the seasonal flu vaccine is usually well tolerated. As with other vaccinations, it can also occur as a result of the organism dealing with the vaccine transient local reactions come. You should be aware that vaccination never provides 100% protection. Accordingly, a possible influenza disease should still be considered in the event of corresponding symptoms despite vaccination. The level of effectiveness of the active ingredient varies from season to season. Since different viruses or parts of other virus (sub)types can circulate once more and once more in the course of a season, the protective effect can differ in terms of its effectiveness. If the vaccine matches the circulating variant well, it might one Protective effect of up to 80% in young adults to be determined. Since the immune system is often weaker in older people, vaccination protection is less reliable in many cases – it is around 41% to 63%. There are two different types of flu vaccinations for children. In addition to the inactivated vaccine, there is the so-called live vaccine, which does not have to be injected, but is administered as nose drops. This is available for children and young people between the ages of 2 and 17. This vaccination is also considered to be very well tolerated. Both variants, i.e. both spray and syringe, can be used equally. It is important to remember that the live vaccine cannot be administered in some underlying diseases such as an immune deficiency or severe asthma.
Conclusion
An influenza vaccination can prevent a corresponding infection. There is no clear answer as to whether a flu vaccination makes sense for your child. It is not explicitly recommended by the STIKO for healthy children, unless you have a child with an increased health risk due to an underlying disease. The Stiftung Warentest, on the other hand, recommends vaccination for all children. If you are unsure whether you want to vaccinate your child, you can Get individual advice on the subject from your pediatrician. Here you can also clarify which vaccine would be most suitable.
Since different (sub)types of the virus develop every year, it is important to get a booster shot in October or November every year, adapted to the circulating variants.
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