When do I need to get a flu shot and who can do it for free? When is the best time to get vaccinated? How to reduce the risk of complications

Influenza is one of the rapidly spreading viral diseases. This is an acute infection, dangerous complications for all organs - from the lungs to the nervous system. The respiratory nature of the disease contributes to the rapid spread of airborne droplets, which leads to mass infection of people, epidemics and pandemics occur. About half a million people die every year from the effects of influenza worldwide.

Symptoms of the disease appear quickly and are difficult. Almost immediately, the temperature rises, hyperthermia occurs, the muscles of the body hurt, joints ache, headache, weakness appear. Cough, runny nose - these are already secondary signs of infection, do not confuse the causes of their occurrence (ARI, SARS or influenza). You should immediately seek qualified medical attention. Perhaps the doctor will make a different diagnosis and tell you when it will be possible to get a flu shot after the condition improves.

There is no universal cure for the flu. Antibiotics do not affect viruses, and antiviral drugs are often powerless and ineffective. Getting the flu shot is the best current precaution, because its component is dead or weakened viruses, and sometimes parts of them. The body reacts to the introduction of a foreign antigen protein (even if not alive) and begins to intensively produce protective antibody proteins. In the future, a protein of this type will not be able to attack the grafted organism, since its immune system has already formed a defense. The disease will either pass by, or will have a mild form.

Vaccination is the best prevention for influenza

Many are wondering when to get vaccinated against the flu, already during the outbreak of the epidemic, absolutely not thinking about carrying out such a preventive procedure in advance. The peak of the spread of the disease occurs in the winter-spring period, when other respiratory diseases are common. When the first symptoms appear, every second person begins to self-medicate, making an incorrect diagnosis for himself. Subsequently, we receive belated medical care, already having a number of exacerbations and complications.

Usually vaccinated from September to December

What is a vaccine? Types of vaccines.

The concept of "vaccine" became known in the eighteenth century. An English doctor experimented with vaccinating a child with cowpox ("vaccinia"), which helped protect him from contracting smallpox. The immune system of a healthy person perceives any foreign protein as an enemy, upon contact with which specific compounds are formed - antibodies. This process also occurs during vaccination. Defender proteins bind pathogens, destroy them and remove them from the body. “Memory cells” are created that remind the immune system of an algorithm for dealing with a repeated attack of such a virus, and the recovery process is much easier and faster.

There are two types of vaccines: in the form of live attenuated or dead viruses, their particles. Weakened - are used in the form of spraying into the sinuses, and dead - in the form of injections. When should I get a live flu vaccine? Pregnant women and children under 3 years of age cannot be vaccinated with such inoculation - the protective functions of the child's body are not yet fully formed and may not be able to cope with such an aggressive, even exhausted, virus.

In no case is it allowed to use this vaccine when the body is exhausted by another disease, or during exacerbation of chronic ailments. Such a procedure is also prohibited for allergic reactions, complications after previous vaccination, immunodeficiencies, detection of malignant tumors, rhinitis and other inflammatory processes.

Children under 7 years of age are given split vaccines

When is an injectable flu shot given? The so-called “split vaccines” are more often used. They consist of purified particles or fragments of the virus. They are used for vaccination of children under 7 years of age, pregnant women (since the flu has an extremely negative effect on the development of the fetus), the elderly and for people with weakened immune systems. Doctors recommend doing the procedure twice for those who are vaccinated for the first time, with an interval of 1 month. After the injection, minor side effects may occur: slight fever, malaise, redness of the injection area, weakness. All reactions resolve within 3 days.

Is there a risk of disease after the vaccine is given?? Definitely not, since infection requires a live virus with active DNA, which is not contained in any type of vaccination. Only parts of its protein are introduced, to which the body reacts by producing antibodies that protect it when a live virus enters.

When can children get their first flu shot?

Pediatricians are allowed to carry out vaccination of children from the age of 6 months and recommend repeating the procedure after 4 weeks. For infants, a special vaccination has been developed, which differs in concentration from those intended for children of preschool, school age, adolescents, etc. Therefore, it is necessary to know which vaccine should be purchased for unformed children's immunity. Even if the child gets sick, the vaccination made on time will greatly alleviate his condition and speed up recovery.

Before the baby reaches 6 months of age, it is necessary to protect him by vaccinating all the surrounding family members, as influenza causes very serious complications in newborns.

Who should get the flu shot and when?

Viruses are constantly changing and mutating. For this reason, a vaccine produced during the season of the spread of one type of virus becomes useless after a while, when the virus has acquired other properties and has become more resistant to the antibodies produced. Thus, it is necessary to stimulate the body annually to form a new type of protection, which means to be vaccinated again. The specific dates for the start of vaccination and until what month the flu vaccine is given are reported using various sources - the media, announcements in clinics, schools, kindergartens, as soon as a new serum is withdrawn.

Is it too late to get a flu shot in the middle of autumn? Early and mid-October is the best time to get vaccinated.Thus, by the beginning of December, immunity will be prepared for a viral assault.

Vaccination prepares immunity for an epidemic

Anti-influenza inoculation is not on the list of mandatory, it is carried out exclusively at the request of a person. Children are vaccinated with the written consent of their parents in preschool, educational institutions, adults - in enterprises, organizations, and medical institutions. The vaccine can be purchased independently in pharmacies and private clinics. But it is important to remember that it has a short shelf life and it quickly loses its properties if the packaging is accidentally damaged, the storage or transportation conditions are violated.

For some categories of the population that are particularly susceptible to a viral attack, there are special vaccines to avoid complications and infection. People related to them must be vaccinated, namely:

Children of preschool (from 6 months), school age
students
Workers in the service sector, education, medicine, transport, catering
Military and employees
Pensioners (after 60 years old)
Pregnant women
People with chronic diseases, cancer patients, diabetics

Healthy adults should also remember to get vaccinated, not only to protect against the disease, but also to reduce the risk of complications.

When is it too late to get the flu shot?

The most suitable time for vaccination is determined in each country in its own way and depends on many conditions and factors. In our latitudes, cold weather can last from September to May, with breaks for a thaw, which creates a favorable environment for the development of viruses and bacteria. At very low temperatures, the virus is dormant. That is why the peak of diseases and epidemics falls on periods of warming.

But what if you miss a vaccination? When can I get a flu shot in this case? Should I do it in winter or wait until next year? You can also get vaccinated in January - this is not quite on time, but it is not contraindicated. The main thing is the absence of active respiratory diseases and the use of only an inactive vaccine.

Should be vaccinated annually

If the vaccine was given last year, should it be repeated this year? The answer is definitely positive. Scientists, microbiologists, virologists annually study new strains of influenza and create vaccines with an updated composition for any of its mutations. Therefore, having been vaccinated once, you should not hope that the disease will pass by.

Should be vaccinated annually.

Influenza has three types of virus - A, B, C. The most frequently mutating of them is virus A. It has a huge number of standards (antigenic variants) for which the human immune system is not ready. But, thanks to the sequential mutation of this type, it is possible to control its development and create the necessary formula for a suitable vaccine in advance. Viruses of type B and C also mutate, but less frequently and less actively. Therefore, modern sera protect immediately from 3-4 influenza strains. If a person still gets sick, then the type of virus that attacked his body was absent in the injection given to him.

The nature and occurrence of atypical strains of influenza, such as avian or swine influenza, is not as predictable. They cause massive epidemics, overcoming the species barrier and infecting various types of living organisms. It is almost impossible to prepare for their appearance.

Is it too late to get the flu vaccine now?

Perhaps someone will think that it is acceptable to get vaccinated in the summer, when the body is filled with vitamins, it has a lot of energy to recuperate after the introduction of serum. This decision is individual, but it is worth remembering the period of active action of the vaccine. There are no guarantees of its effectiveness in the midst of cold weather.

It is useless to take root in summer and at the end of winter

If vaccinated by the end of winter, the maximum benefit from it will come in the middle of spring. Do not expect that its action will be enough for the next season. Perhaps it will save from infection during the latest outbreaks of the disease, but no more. The next year, the procedure still needs to be repeated.

Key to vaccination

Before vaccination, it is necessary to consult a general practitioner and an allergist, since many are predisposed to allergies to chicken protein (anti-influenza antibodies are grown on chicken embryos).
It is strictly forbidden to vaccinate yourself, without medical supervision.
After inoculation during the day, it is important to ensure that the injection site does not get wet and there is no inflammatory reaction.
Without vaccination, the flu causes complications in the form of pneumonia, meningitis, myocarditis, bronchitis, etc.
A vaccinated person is not contagious and is not dangerous to others.
The vaccine cannot cause disease, but it does not protect against other respiratory infections.
The vaccine is much more harmless than people think. It can save health and save lives.

Despite the fact that vaccination is only a moderate protection (about 70%), it will significantly reduce the risks of complications and treatment costs. Its effectiveness largely depends on the state of health of the vaccinated person and the characteristics of his body.

To be vaccinated or not is an individual decision. which everyone takes on their own. There are many skeptics, but when they get sick, a significant number of them change their point of view.

A large amount of conflicting information regarding childhood preventive vaccinations,
complications after vaccinations, the safety and necessity of vaccination puts parents in front of a difficult choice: whether or not to vaccinate their child, do them according to the vaccination calendar or according to an individual scheme, do all or only part, which vaccines to do and where. If the choice is made in favor of vaccination, then it becomes very important to comply with all safety measures that will help reduce the risk of complications.

Vaccinations can only be given to a healthy child. During acute respiratory infections, they should be avoided, since vaccination can provoke the development of severe complications of a respiratory disease. That is why, before the first vaccination, the child is given a blood and urine test, and the temperature is measured (no higher than 37.1-37.2 degrees is considered normal). It is advisable to vaccinate a month after recovery.

To reduce the risk of developing complications for children suffering from frequent colds, recurring bronchitis, pneumonia, the child can be given tonics, vitamins or antiviral drugs based on interferon, immunomodulators before vaccination, in agreement with the doctor.

Those who are afraid of the development of VAPP (vaccine-associated poliomyelitis) in a child, it is better to be vaccinated with an inactivated dead vaccine. In any case, you should not be vaccinated with a live polio vaccine (ALP) during acute gastrointestinal diseases. In a diseased intestine, a live polio virus can begin to multiply and cause a disease, so you can be vaccinated only 1-1.5 months after recovery.

When possible, vaccinations should be given with vaccines that do not contain thiomersal (a mercury-containing preservative), the safety of which is such a fierce debate. It is absent, for example, in vaccines such as Tetracoc and Infanrix, reduced to trace amounts in Engerix B.

It is safer to use imported pertussis-diphtheria-tetanus vaccines with an acellular pertussis component - Infanrix (Belgium), Pentaxim (France), after which complications occur less frequently compared to whole-cell vaccines (DTP, Tetracoccus).

You can not be vaccinated during the period of exacerbation of chronic diseases of internal organs: kidneys, liver, heart, with atopic dermatitis, etc. During what period it is impossible - the attending physician determines. You need to be careful with vaccinations for children prone to allergies. Usually, the doctor prescribes vaccination for such children while taking antihistamines (3 days before and 3 days after). You can not be vaccinated within a month after an exacerbation of allergies or bronchial asthma. Before vaccination, you should not give your child food that is known to cause an allergic reaction.

It is especially dangerous to vaccinate children with neurological disorders, so it is recommended to visit a neurologist before the first vaccination to identify such disorders. For all children who have had or are susceptible to seizures, antipyretics are recommended after vaccination, as vaccines can cause a high fever and cause seizures again. If the child had convulsions caused by a temperature above 38C, vaccinations can be done no earlier than a month after the attack. If the convulsions were provoked by a lower temperature, then in addition to maintaining the time interval without convulsions, the child is contraindicated in the vaccine with the pertussis component (DPT) and can only be vaccinated by its analogues, which are deprived of it.

It is not advisable to vaccinate a child weakened by iron deficiency anemia. It is better for weakened children to be vaccinated without the pertussis component. Before vaccination, new foods should not be introduced into the child's diet, as they can provoke allergies.

It is better not to vaccinate immediately after returning from a long trip, especially if there has been a sharp change in climate, because. The immune system is already under stress.

It is not advisable to vaccinate a child immediately before entering kindergarten, it is better to do this a few months before. A change of scenery is a psychological stress that weakens the child's immune system and provokes infectious diseases that may prevent a re-vaccination.

After a blood transfusion, you should not be vaccinated against measles, rubella, mumps, because with a transfusion, he can get antibodies to these diseases, which will prevent the child from developing his own immunity.

Of course, if there is a financial opportunity, it is better to vaccinate a child in specialized immunization centers under the supervision of immunologists. They will draw up an individual vaccination schedule, select the optimal type of vaccine for a particular baby, etc.

Recently, concerns have been heard about the influenza virus, which is constantly mutating and carries the threat of serious complications. The closer to the time of its manifestation, the more controversy about the benefits of flu shots. Someone considers them useless, someone this question is not at all interesting. But the result of vaccination depends on when you get the flu shot. If you put it early, by the time of the epidemic, immunity may weaken and not respond properly. But even with late immunization, there is no chance that the vaccinated person will not get the flu. Therefore, knowing the timing is the basis of the desire to maintain health and a fulfilling life.

Why is the influenza virus dangerous?

Influenza is a viral disease that is active in the autumn-spring period. The main peak occurs during the winter months, when other diseases besides the flu are widespread. Therefore, there is a risk of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment, which may not have a positive result.

Late treatment is dangerous. The virus develops in the human body very rapidly and can provoke all sorts of complications. It is complications that are a serious problem that can quickly lead to a point of no return, that is, disability or death.

A mutating virus is not always treatable because it has adapted to many antivirals or other drugs. Until a suitable remedy is found, there will not be enough time for its action.

The flu shot is designed to prevent these complications. Having received immunity through vaccination, a person should not be completely determined that the disease will not affect him. Contact may occur, but it will be a mild form without severe consequences - disability and death are excluded by 90%.

Rules and timing for influenza immunization

Influenza vaccination is not among the sera marked in the mandatory list. But still, it is done free of charge to all categories of the population in order to prevent epidemic development. For groups of certain ages, various types of vaccines are provided so that there are no complications due to the presence of virus particles in a live or inactivated form.

You can not use the same type of flu shot for children, and adolescents, and young people, and the elderly. Therefore, it is worth knowing which flu vaccines are suitable for instilling immunity.

Conversations about the prevention of the epidemic arise in the fall. You can find out about the timing and points of vaccination from various sources.

Children in the kindergarten and school are given information sheets, which indicate the name of the serum, the duration of the procedure, and a request for a decision.
The adult population can be vaccinated at work or in a medical facility after being examined by a general practitioner.

October is considered the best month to get the flu shot. By the end of December, immunity will be able to repel the attack. A sustained response persists for six months after vaccination.

Therefore, it is not enough to get vaccinated once to be able to survive the peak of influenza virus activity without consequences. Immunization is carried out every year.

Serum options may change because the influenza virus does not have one stable formula. Virologists try to take into account the mutating properties of the virus and the emergence of a different strain every year (avian, swine, etc.). But it is difficult to say that the type of vaccine will 100% coincide with the strain of the next flu. Some monitoring is being carried out on the type and extent of the spread of influenza in the new season.

Many people doubt the effectiveness of vaccination due to the mutational characteristics of the source of the disease. There is no guarantee that the exact strain will come from which to be vaccinated in the fall. There is an opinion that it is possible to make an injection at the time of the epidemic, when the enemy is known in person.

Of course, you can choose this method, but it takes at least three weeks for the production of antibodies. There is also a minimum period - three or four days. But the source can be encountered much earlier, then the expected result will not be obtained. A person will have to endure the disease in full manifestation.

Emergency vaccination is possible if the patient is intentionally sent to an area where the virus is already prevalent. Then it is necessary to wait for the formation of antibodies. The possibility of infection remains, but the course of the disease will pass in a mild form, without causing serious problems.

Is it possible to get vaccinated against the flu in the summer

Why not get vaccinated against influenza in the summer, when there is no danger of picking up other viruses that are active during the autumn immunization period on a weakened immune system. In the summer there is more strength, a sufficient amount of sun and vitamins. The reaction to serum can be the most minimal and it is possible to restore the immune system in short term.

This is an individual decision of the vaccinated person. But there is no guarantee that antibodies will be as active at the time of the epidemic. The peak of the flu may come later than usual, for example, in March or April. The action of the serum by this point may be over. Therefore, special deadlines are provided for when to get the flu vaccine as effectively as possible.

In the summer, it is worth preparing yourself for the autumn vaccination:

Rest as much as possible;
Fill the body with useful vitamins, minerals;
Eliminate sources that overwork the immune system;
Decide on the place of vaccination;
Study information about the serum, especially if children will be vaccinated.

By thinking about your health in advance, you can avoid nervous tension during the period of possible flu activity, reduce the cost of medicines and enjoy life to the fullest. A special responsibility rests with the parents of young children, who are the most vulnerable.

By following the recommendations of doctors about the rules of conduct after vaccination, you can not be afraid of side effects. A slight weakness, a temporary increase in temperature cannot be compared with the well-being experienced by an unvaccinated person during direct contact with the virus.

Contraindications to the flu shot do nothing to diminish its benefits The threat of influenza: how to resist a viral infection
Should you get the flu shot?
Influenza and preventive vaccination against it

Influenza is a seasonal infection that causes annual epidemics of the disease in 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children and periodic pandemics with significant coverage and more pronounced consequences.

Since 2006, the Ministry of Health has included vaccination against seasonal influenza in the National Immunization Calendar, and the effectiveness of these preventive measures on the territory of the Russian Federation is beyond doubt.

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Why do you need to get vaccinated against the flu?

The inclusion of influenza vaccination in the Russian Federation Vaccination Calendar is the most important preventive measure, but today this vaccination is unpopular among Russians, since the population does not see the difference between the flu and the common cold (acute respiratory infection). In addition, doctors consider every episode of a respiratory disease a serious health threat, without explaining to patients the differences between influenza, which sometimes leads to death, and acute respiratory infection, which, although it causes some discomfort, does not cause serious harm to health.

The benefits of the flu shot are easy to explain. Of the 3-6 colds you or your child are likely to develop this fall and winter, the flu shot will prevent the most dangerous illness and 1-2 more episodes of a respiratory infection.

In controlled vaccine studies in people vaccinated against influenza during the autumn-winter period It revealed reduction in episodes of acute respiratory infections (with a rise in body temperature) by 13%.

The main danger of the influenza virus is that it causes temporary immunodeficiency. This means that the general resistance of the body is weakened, and a bacterial infection joins the flu both during and after the illness. This can lead to the development of bronchitis, pneumonia, purulent tonsillitis and even death. That is why it is important to get vaccinated against seasonal flu.

Who gets vaccinated against the flu?

In our country, the flu vaccine is given annually:

children from six months of age;
children attending preschool educational institutions;
schoolchildren from grades 1 to 11;
students of higher and secondary special educational institutions;
adults working in certain areas (in educational and medical institutions, public utilities, transport, etc.);
persons over 60 years of age;
persons with any chronic disease.

These groups of the population are vaccinated free of charge in the clinic at the place of residence, work, school, kindergarten, university. Adults for whom influenza vaccination is not mandatory due to the nature of their activity can independently get vaccinated at the clinic at the place of work or for a fee in private medical organizations. The flu vaccine is also given to pregnant women.

Terms and types of vaccination

There are two types of flu vaccines. Some contain live virus particles, while others contain dead ones.

Live vaccines are administered intramuscularly or deep subcutaneously. It is customary to inject this vaccine into the arm in the middle third of the shoulder, with the exception of small children, who are given all vaccinations in the thigh. Killed vaccines are administered intranasally, that is, a flu shot is given by injecting a special spray into the nose.

Every year, epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists develop the composition of a new vaccine, including in it those strains of the influenza virus that will prevail in the autumn-winter cold season. Influenza vaccines are produced in Russia, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. The most famous and widely used today are the domestic Grippol and the French Waxigripp.

October is considered the ideal month for the flu vaccination (the specific date does not matter). In order to form a strong immunity, it takes from two weeks to a month, so you need to have time to defend yourself by the November cold. Resistance to the influenza virus will remain for the next 6 to 9 months.

But it is not worth rushing to get vaccinated, especially in children. In September, when children are just starting to contact after the holidays at school or kindergarten, their immunity is weakened due to contact with the new microflora of their team. Therefore, there is an unspoken rule: in order to avoid an outbreak of respiratory diseases, children are not given any vaccinations in September until they get used to the new microbiological environment.

Children from organized groups and production workers usually begin to vaccinate at the same fixed time. Most often, a flu shot is given from mid-October to the end of December. Vaccination in February and later is ineffective.

Contraindications

Despite the obvious benefits of influenza vaccination, there are groups of people who are better off not getting vaccinated. Contraindications include:

allergic reactions to chicken egg protein;
allergic reactions to aminoglycoside antibiotics and polymyxin (for vaccines containing these components);
severe reactions, complications after a previous vaccination;
acute diseases or exacerbation of chronic;
primary immunodeficiencies, treatment with immunosuppressants, oncological diseases (for live vaccines);
pregnancy (for live vaccines);
rhinitis (for intranasal vaccine).

Post-vaccination reactions and complications

After the introduction of the vaccine, two variants of consequences can develop - post-vaccination reactions and complications.

Post-vaccination reactions are the body's normal immune response to the introduction of viral particles. Such conditions are not dangerous to health and most often do not require medical attention. Within 3 days after vaccination against influenza, the temperature may rise, slight malaise, headache, runny nose, sneezing, coughing are possible. Slight swelling, soreness, or redness of the skin may occur at the injection site. All these phenomena are very mild and most often disappear on their own, and in people with good immunity they do not occur at all. If necessary, you can use antipyretics (paracetamol, ibuprofen) and ointments to reduce pain and swelling at the injection site (butadione, traumel).

In rare cases, post-vaccination complications may occur after the introduction of the influenza vaccine. Most often they are allergic in nature, and the most formidable of them is anaphylactic shock. That is why it is recommended to stay at the clinic or near the medical center at school, kindergarten or at work for half an hour after the injection of the vaccine. The vaccination room has an emergency first aid kit in case of allergic complications. .

Should I get vaccinated?

In recent decades, the anti-vaccination movement has been gaining momentum in Russia. Parents everywhere refuse to "poison" their children, which leads to outbreaks not only of influenza, but also of much more serious infections, such as measles or polio. All this significantly reduces population immunity, which is why it is so important to be vaccinated right now, when any child or adult can be infected with some kind of virus or bacterium, whether he is 3, 12 or 65 years old, and for unvaccinated people the risk of getting sick is very high.

The main goal of immunoprophylaxis is to prevent the epidemic of the disease. The more people who are immune to a particular infection, the less likely a child is to meet a sick person. So what is the best time of year to get vaccinated and why?

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Photo gallery: When is the best time of year to get vaccinated?

Can a breastfeeding mother pass on her immunity to her baby?

This is usually what happens. If a mother had childhood infections or was vaccinated against them, protective antibodies “run” in her body, which she passes on to the child along with milk. That is why measles, rubella, chickenpox in children under half a head are rare. Then such "introduced" immunity weakens. This is where vaccinations come in. It is better to start vaccination before the baby is weaned - from the breast.

Is it possible to do several vaccinations at the same time?

Yes, and there are special associated vaccines for this, for example, DPT. They contain several components against different pathogens that do not "compete" with each other (special tables have been developed to check the compatibility of vaccines). Simultaneous vaccination is good because it does not injure the child with unnecessary injections; he does not need to visit the clinic ten times where it is easy to catch, for example, SARS.

Is it possible to change drugs during vaccination?

Several vaccines from different manufacturers can exist for the same disease at once. Some are more effective, but rarely do without consequences, others are safer, but more expensive. If the clinic suddenly does not have the right vaccine, it can usually be replaced Interchangeable vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, live and inactivated polio, different vaccines against hepatitis A and B. Re-administration of a live vaccine also does not require the mandatory use of one and the same the same drug. All X and B vaccines licensed in Russia are replaceable.

Why do multiple identical vaccinations?

Multiple vaccinations are needed to develop strong immunity against certain diseases. Vaccination against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B is done in several stages with an interval of 45 days. But against measles, mumps or tuberculosis, one vaccination is enough to develop immunity for many years (revaccination occurs every 6-7 years).

Can a vaccinated child get sick?

Very rare, but still possible. There are many reasons for this, ranging from improper storage of the vaccine and ending with the individual characteristics of the organism. The effectiveness of the vaccine can be affected by the age of the child, and the nature of the diet, and even the climate of the area in which the baby lives. That is why it is so important to adhere to the vaccination calendar or individual vaccination schedule developed by the doctor, not to introduce new complementary foods during the scheduled vaccination and to refuse other "experiments" on the child: trips to the sea, weaning, etc. associated with a risk to the baby, the doctor can guess by looking at the medical record. Post-vaccination complications are likely if the child has: increased intracranial pressure, convulsive syndrome and other pathologies of the nervous system were observed; there is a pronounced allergy, atonic dermatitis, etc.; all year - endless SARS, the course of the disease is acute and it does not last long

Passes;

have chronic diseases; observed "wrong" reactions to previous vaccinations. Therefore, even before the start of vaccination, parents should get the approval of not only a pediatrician, but also other specialists, in particular a neuropathologist, ideally, an immunologist should make a decision on vaccination based on the results of a comprehensive examination (including a general blood and urine test).

What are the possible reactions to the vaccine?

Vaccination is the introduction into the body of something unusual, extraneous. Even if the child is outwardly calm, a serious struggle is going on in his body - it is beneficial in itself, because immunity is developed during it. Sometimes, however, the echoes of this struggle break out to the surface - then general and local post-vaccination reactions are possible. The first include fever, malaise, headache, loss of appetite; to the second - redness and soreness of tissues, induration at the injection site, inflammation of nearby lymph nodes. All these reactions are usually transient. If the ailment drags on - the temperature persists, the swelling does not subside - we can talk about a post-vaccination complication, a doctor's consultation is necessary. Complications are often confused with a common illness. The fact is that the vaccine temporarily weakens the immune system - it is "distracted" by the introduced pathogen or its components, which means that the body becomes defenseless against other infections, hidden for the time being or obvious. But in this case, vaccination is not the cause, but a condition, the same as, for example, hypothermia or stress.

What are the most common adverse reactions?

The most common is an allergic reaction to vaccine components. That is why it is recommended to give the child antihistamines three days before and three days after vaccination. An increase in body temperature and irritation at the injection site is also a fairly common (and normal) phenomenon. It is important to understand that possible side effects will pass, but thanks to the vaccination, the baby will have powerful protection for life. If you refuse to vaccinate, you risk the most important thing - the health of the child and even his life. Of course, you should seriously prepare for any vaccination: the child should not even get sick with ARVI for at least two weeks before the injection, you should not be vaccinated against the background of stressful conditions, etc. If the baby has health problems, you can choose with the participation of a doctor between vaccine analogues. The attending pediatrician, who knows the characteristics of your child, can give a temporary exemption, a deferment from vaccination, but nothing more. Do not take seriously the horror stories about destructive vaccines that are filled with parent forums. Your only adviser is a doctor who is responsible for the health of the baby. And also your own mind.

When and from what to vaccinate the baby?

The immunization calendar establishes the following schedule.

12 hours - the first vaccination: hepatitis B.

3-7th day - vaccination: tuberculosis.

1 month - second vaccination: hepatitis B.

3 months - the first vaccination: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio.

4.5 months - the second vaccination: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio.

6 months - the third vaccination: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio; third vaccination: hepatitis B.

12 months - first vaccination: measles, mumps, rubella,

18 months - the first revaccination: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio.

20 months - second revaccination: polio. Of these preventive vaccinations, anti-tuberculosis is mandatory; Parents usually do not even ask for consent to it: the child is discharged from the hospital only after the introduction of the appropriate vaccine - BCG.

Something new

Leading Russian pediatricians are calling for the inclusion of new vaccinations in the National Immunization Schedule: against pneumococcal infection, against Hib infection and against chicken pox. Pneumococcal infection causes both widespread otitis and sinusitis, and terrible diseases - pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis. Pneumococcus is especially dangerous for young children due to the structural features of this bacterium: it has a strong polysaccharide shell that the immune cells of the child's body cannot cope with, pneumococcus evolves rapidly and loses sensitivity to antibiotics. Due to the growth of strain resistance, it is becoming more and more difficult to treat the disease every year. Much easier to prevent." In the United States and many European countries, this vaccine has been included in national calendars for several years. Hemophilus influenzae type B (HIB infection) is a widespread causative agent of severe diseases [meningitis, pneumonia], mainly in children under six years of age. WHO recommends the inclusion of Hib vaccination in national calendars in all countries. Chickenpox is considered a harmless childhood disease. At the same time, few people know that an extremely contagious "chickenpox" can cause severe complications - up to inflammation of the meninges. This childhood illness is very poorly tolerated by adults who did not have it at one time (immunity from chickenpox is lifelong). Therefore, it is better to protect a child and an adult who did not have chickenpox in childhood. Moreover, the vaccine is easily tolerated and without consequences.