Dr. Pelemis for Telegraf: Important advice for everyone intending to get the flu vaccine

Photo: shutterstock; printscreen/TV Prva

If you had coronavirus, you should be vaccinated against the flu this fall, even if you do not belong to the risk categories in whom seasonal flu can cause complications. Namely, a weakened immune system is more susceptible to other viruses, and thus to the seasonal flu virus. But, while there is no vaccine for Covid-19 yet, the one against seasonal flu has been available throughout Serbia since October 1.

Recommended

"People who had conavirus should be vaccinated against the flu at least four weeks after all the symptoms of Covid-19 have cleared," Professor Dr. Mijomir Pelemis told Telegraf.

"I would absolutely recommend to everyone who had coronavirus to get vaccinated against seasonal flu. Of course, they should see an infectologist beforehand because of the possible coronavirus consequences."

Our prominent infectologist recalls that the flu vaccine can only be received by healthy people, who do not have any respiratory infection at the time of vaccination.

Two flu vaccines in Serbia

Two vaccines against seasonal flu are available in healthcare centers throughout Serbia this fall - the one imported from the Netherlands, and the one produced in Serbia at the Torlak Institute. The Dutch vaccine can be received by everyone, while the domestic one, which the public eagerly welcomed after a decade and a half, is for people up to the age of 65.

"That, of course, does not mean that the domestic vaccine against seasonal flu is not good for people over 65. It's known that studies of the domestic vaccine have not been done on the age group older than 65," reminds Professor Dr. Pelemis.

It takes two to three weeks to build up immunity after receiving the seasonal flu vaccine. The duration of post-vaccination immunity varies from six to 12 months.

Anti-flu vaccination is mandatory only for healthcare workers and for people especially at risk, while it is recommended to others. According to the Batut Institute, mandatory immunization is done for pregnant women and all persons older than six months who have chronic disorders of the pulmonary system (including asthma), chronic disorders of the cardiovascular system (excluding hypertension), metabolic disorders (including diabetes, obesity with BMI> 40), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathy, chronic neurological disorders, immunosuppression (including persons with HIV/AIDS, persons with functional or anatomical asplenia), and transplant recipients.

Vaccination is also carried out for persons accommodated and employed in gerontological centers, for children, youth and the elderly accommodated in social and healthcare institutions and for persons employed in those institutions, as well as for persons employed in healthcare institutions.

Batut reminds that the flu is a great public health and socio-economic challenge, bering in mind that annually more than 100 million people get sick globally, of which 250,000 to 650,000 die from complications of the disease caused by the virus.

(Telegraf.rs)