Australian flu virus, are we still in time to get the vaccine?

The answer is yes. We still have time to get vaccinated againstinfluence, which this year in its Australian variant is particularly contagious and even seems to have forged ahead in advancing towards the seasonal peak. This is confirmed, for example, by the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health. However, he warns: those arriving will be the last useful days for it to make full sense and for the choice to be more protective. There are thousands, in particular, of the children involved, the pediatric wards – such as Meyer in Florence or the Bambino Gesù in Rome – are also under pressure due to co-infection with the respiratory syncytial virus and Covid and therefore defending and defending them is a sacrosanct and recommended choice. But it must be done keeping in mind the times of protection.

Meanwhile, to contain the risk of contagion, the first recommendation of the Sltl, through the voice of President Antonio Ferro, “is to use the mask indoors to protect the elderly and frail population. The second recommendation, however, is theisolation of symptomatic subjects within the family unit”. As for vaccination, the ministerial circular of last July invited medical-health operators to “offer vaccination to eligible subjects at any time during the flu seasoneven if they show up late. What is meant by delay? Considering that the start of the vaccination campaign is usually set for October, December precisely represents the peak of the upward curve of infections – and this year, perhaps, even the anticipated peak. We are therefore late but we would make a still useful choice: winter, in fact, has just begun.

Even the Italian Society of General Medicine and Primary Care returned to the point: «Although we are at the flu peak, it is still appropriate, albeit belatedly, to get vaccinatedas well as maintaining the good rules aimed at limiting infections» commented Alessandro Rossi, head of acute pathologies of the organization, Galileo. Indeed, they need it about 10-15 days for the development of neutralizing antibodies for flu strains in circulation to enter full swing, exactly as happens for vaccines against Covid. Getting vaccinated at the beginning of the flu season, to find the defenses ready and mature at the time of the peak, is therefore a decidedly more effective strategy than hesitating, perhaps arriving in early December. And finding yourself still not fully covered for the holidays and the consequent family reunions so much at risk of clusters.

As known, while in the United States the flu vaccine is recommended for the general population, in Italy it is indicated for anyone who wants to but it is free and recommended only for pregnant women, children between 6 months and 6 years, people over 65 and subjects at risk due to health conditions or the type of work: the categories, with all the information on vaccination, are available on this page. This year, however, the story is different: not only some regions such as Lombardy have extended free admission outside these categories as well but in general, given the low cost of the products on sale (not even 20 euros) it is appropriate that even those who would not risk much personally Evaluate your condition in relation to others. For example, if you live with small children or immunosuppressed people or are in regular contact with them. Finally, it is worth getting the vaccine even after having had the flu: the vaccination will act as a boosterwill increase the defenses and will protect us from possible reinfections during the winter.

Influenza, hepatitis, bronchiolitis… The reappearance of other viruses in unexpected ways, after two years of Covid

Australian influence: what’s so special about it?