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Six things that parents should know about the 2017-2018 influenza vaccination

 
 

1. Seasonal influenza is an infection of great importance to health care. Every year, it affects approximately 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children worldwide.

 

2. The flu vaccine must be administered every year, at the end of October or November. Protective effects begin 2 weeks after its administration and lasts approximately 9 months. It protects against the flu virus only and not against colds.

 

3. There are two kinds of vaccines: Inactivated virus vaccines for intramuscular injections and attenuated virus vaccines for nasal sprays. (It seems these vaccines will not be available for this year.) The dose depends on patient’s age and the previous anti-flu doses:

 

• 6 months to 8 years old: One or no previous dose: Two separate doses in four weeks. / Two previous doses or more: One dose. / Volume for injections: Intramuscular (IM) inactivated preparations: 6-35 months, 0.25 ml / >36 months, 0.5 ml.
• Over 9 years old: One dose each season. Intramuscular (IM) inactivated preparations: 0,5 ml.

 

4. Side effects are very rare and are most likely to be redness, pain or swelling at the injection site (3 out of 10 patients). During the following 24-48 hours, fever, malaise or muscle aches may appear (1 out of 20).

 

These reactions are more frequent in those vaccinated for the first time and in children under 12 years of age. Severe neurological or hypersensitivity reactions (asthma, angioedema or urticaria) are very rare.

 

5. School age children contribute to the spread of the virus among family and friends, in the nursery or in home, since they “store” more viruses and for longer periods, which is why they constitute a fundamental factor in the propagation chain.

 

6. Children under age 2 are at greater risk of contracting the flu and suffer greater impact due to frequent complications (pneumonia, otitis media, …) and higher hospitalization rates than adults.

 

The efficacy in children under age 2 is limited and between age 2 and 9 is 50-60% and will depend on the similarity of the circulating virus and the vaccine.

 

7. The Vaccine Advisory Committee – Spanish Association of Pediatrics (CAV-AEP) and the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, recommends pediatric vaccination in:

 

1) Children over 6 months and adolescents belonging to the risk groups (consult your doctor).

 

2) Healthy children over 6 months, healthy adolescents and adults living with at-risk patients.

 

3) Members of the family environment when there are infants under 6 months of age with risk factors, since these cannot be vaccinated with the influenza vaccine.

 

Influenza vaccination is especially important for pregnant women and all health professionals in contact with children.

 
 

Dr. Francisco Canca Doblas
Pediatric Specialist

 

 

November 9, 2017

 

 

 

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