Despite the fact that every year there is an epidemic rise in the increase in the incidence of influenza, not all citizens are in a hurry to protect themselves and their family from this disease. Sometimes complications occur after vaccination, and then some anxious patient should complain that she got sick after the flu shot. This is probably why many people are convinced that the flu is not a disease to worry about. It is necessary to understand why this happens.
Statistics data
In America, about half a million people are hospitalized annually because of the flu, and serious complications often arise. According to statistics, up to 36,000 people die from this disease in the United States during the year. This number includes children who have never been at risk. However, it is worth noting that they were not vaccinated against the flu.
In Russia, the situation is also quite complicated, although in a year the disease kills up to 1 thousand people. The differences in statistics are explained by the fact that in the USA all people who died from the flu and from complications are considered, while in Russia deaths are taken into account, which only the disease itself claimed. The lethal outcome from the complicated course of the disease is according to separate statistics.
Who needs vaccination and when?
Before deciding whether it is possible to get sick after a flu shot, you need to deal with people who need vaccination. To understand who needs it, one should recall the situation that every person faces every year. In the last autumn months or early spring, a message appears that within several days there will be an excess of the influenza epidemic threshold. Therefore, people should understand how important it is to get vaccinated.
Spring and autumn are cold and wet. While at work or at school, people are in enclosed spaces in which a large number of pathogenic viruses accumulate. So there is an infection, to which the following categories of citizens are most exposed:
- People over 60 years old and infants from 6 months. The former no longer produce antibodies to viruses, and in children this process has not yet begun. By the way, if after vaccination the child has symptoms of the disease, then all conditions were not met: the body has weakened or the wrong dose has been entered.
- Persons who have a chronic illness.
- People who work in large groups (schools, kindergartens, various enterprises, etc.).
- Pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
People who have recently had ARVI are not forbidden to be vaccinated, even in the presence of residual symptoms of the disease.
How to vaccinate?
When asked why this or that one got sick after a flu shot patient, the following should be answered: in order for vaccination to be effective, vaccination must be done no later than 2 weeks before the epidemic. And for the period when immunity is formed, it is necessary to take preventive measures of the following nature:
- A gauze bandage should be worn.
- Refuse to visit crowded places.
- Adhere to a proper and balanced diet (you must include greens, fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts in the diet).
- Be sure to play sports.
- Avoid stress.
Constant walks in the fresh air will have a positive effect on the body.
What vaccination will protect against, and is it possible to get sick after it?
But why, after a flu shot, got a headache, a fever or other symptoms of the disease? This happens because this procedure involves the use of two types of vaccines. One includes dead viruses, and the second includes attenuated live viruses. A type 1 vaccine is administered by injection, and a second by spraying into the nose.
If vaccination was carried out in the first way, then inanimate viruses got into the body, and in this case the disease is completely excluded. In the second method, the disease can occur if the patient or patient is so exhausted that they can not even cope with weakened viruses. Then there is a need to find out if he got sick after a flu shot, how to be treated.
Vaccination cannot completely prevent infection, therefore, complications arise in such cases:
- A person was vaccinated, whose body is exhausted by chronic diseases, bad habits, malnutrition and stress. In this case, immunity is very weak, and signs of the disease may appear.
- The vaccine was given by a completely healthy person, but only a few days passed between vaccination and infection. In this case, antibodies in the body did not have time to develop in the right amount. This usually occurs 2 weeks after vaccination. Therefore, if they say that he became ill immediately after the flu vaccine, this does not mean that it is not effective, just too little time has passed after it.
- The vaccinated healthy person was in close contact with the sick flu and fell ill. In this case, a large number of influenza pathogens were present, and the immune system did not completely prevent the symptoms of the disease. During the period of the epidemic, the vaccinated person needs additional protective measures against infection and the exclusion of all contact with the sick flu.
- A person could become infected with a virus whose antigens were not part of the vaccine. Sometimes this happens when people travel between continents or communicate with travelers. After all, vaccines in one country or another are created from those strains of influenza that are common in this territory.
Vaccinated people have a lower risk of complications, which are as follows:
- In children, the occurrence of: acute otitis media, pneumonia, croup and others.
- Elderly people are prone to complications, which include pneumonia, sometimes fatal.
- In adult patients, bronchitis, myocarditis, meningitis, encephalitis and cramps occur at high temperature.
Even if infection has occurred, vaccination can reduce the symptoms of the disease.
Vaccination effects
So, if the patient complains that he became ill after the flu shot, what should I do?
After vaccination, there are two types of side effects: local and general. The local ones include redness and swelling in the injection area. Pain occurs when an injection is placed under the skin, and not in the muscle.
Common include fever, weakness and loss of appetite. Sometimes after vaccination a cough and runny nose occurs, which is especially common in children. According to statistics, only 4% of Russians have a fever after vaccination.
How to behave if after a flu shot you get a headache and a fever? If it has become higher than 38.5, then it is necessary to drink an antipyretic. If there is no effect, you need to call a doctor, because high temperature can trigger convulsions. Again, you should not drink the drug to reduce heat, because it will make it difficult to make the correct diagnosis. You can take a cool shower, as well as increase the amount of fluid used.
You should not be afraid of this state, because the percentage of adverse reactions does not exceed 1%.
Contraindications
For each patient, you can give some tips to help avoid the situation when he gets sick after a flu shot:
- The vaccine is not given to children under 6 months old and toddlers who have had a cold less than 14 days ago.
- Patients who cannot tolerate chicken protein and its components.
- With a disease of allergic dermatitis.
- If a person has poorly tolerated previous vaccination.
- After and during exacerbation of chronic diseases.
- If a person suffers from neurological diseases.
With existing pathologies and conditions, it is not recommended to be vaccinated, so as not to cause serious complications.
Adverse reactions
But if nevertheless situations arise that people become ill after a flu shot, symptomatic treatment will be prescribed.
Many adverse reactions are due to the fact that the vaccine was done incorrectly. When the patient did not comply with the contraindications before vaccination or the doctor did not pay attention to the existing ones.
Sometimes the cause is a violation of the rules for transporting and storing the vaccine. And if safety rules are not followed, then suppuration or allergic reactions may occur. The poor quality of the vaccine can also be indicated by the fact that a group of patients vaccinated at the same time showed similar symptoms of the disease.
Conclusion
Despite possible adverse reactions or complications, a flu shot can protect your body from serious consequences. It is especially important for people at risk. Vaccination takes place on a voluntary basis, so people must analyze the situation themselves and make a really right decision.