Vaccination-protection from the flu!
Influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) remain a global public health problem, posing a real threat to the health and life of the population. On the eve of the 2020/2021 epidemic season, remember that ARVI is the most common group of infectious diseases and occupies up to 90% of the structure of the infectious pathology of Lipchans.
According to the preliminary forecast of the World Health Organization, in the current epidemic season, three new influenza viruses are expected to circulate, previously not widely circulating among the population, whose strains are included in the composition of antiviral vaccines for the 2020/2021 epidemic season. The pandemic of a new coronavirus infection exacerbates the situation in terms of the severity of the consequences of exposure to influenza and other respiratory infections on the human body. Therefore, vaccination against influenza in the current epidemic season is of particular relevance.
Vaccination is the main and most reliable way to protect the population from influenza and is carried out annually before the beginning of the epidemic rise in the incidence of influenza. Timely vaccination prevents the risk of influenza in 80-90 % of children and adults, while the disease in vaccinated patients is easier, with minimal risk of complications. To ensure epidemiological well-being, an important role is played by the formation of collective immunity, which can be provided when vaccination coverage is at least 60 % of the population and at least 75 % in risk groups and organized groups.
Vaccination against influenza in medical organizations of the state health system will be carried out with domestic vaccines that have proven themselves to be highly effective and safe. The vaccine will provide protection against all types of influenza virus that are most relevant in this epidemic season. Vaccination is carried out in the vaccination offices of medical organizations of the Lipetsk region, as well as in mobile vaccination centers. In addition, it is possible to organize vaccination of employees of enterprises directly at the workplace by field vaccination teams of polyclinics in the city of Lipetsk and the Lipetsk region.
Persons who are not included in the National Calendar of Preventive vaccinations, primarily employees of industrial and other enterprises, can be vaccinated at the expense of the employer or other sources of funding. Immunization against influenza in non-governmental medical organizations (under the VHI policy) will be carried out with vaccines of domestic and foreign production, registered and approved for use in the Russian Federation in accordance with the instructions for their use.
The best effect in the prevention of influenza and ARVI is provided by a comprehensive approach that includes specific (vaccination) and non-specific (fortification, rational nutrition, hardening) protection of the population, as well as a healthy lifestyle. This tactic allows you to prevent deaths from influenza, significantly reduce the incidence and complications of influenza and other acute respiratory viral infections.
Taking into account the relevance and economic feasibility of vaccination, we call on citizens, especially at-risk groups (people over 60 years old, people with chronic diseases) to get vaccinated against influenza, and parents to vaccinate their children to ensure a high level of collective immunity!
Chief freelance epidemiologist,
health departments of the Lipetsk region,
Filatov A. N.
