While the coronavirus takes the first lines of news and medical reports, seasonal colds are approaching the northern hemisphere, including Russia. And if before that the flu and ARVI were treated as something that you just need to endure and forget, then this year all specialists are experiencing strong anxiety. What will happen to people when the “meeting on the Elbe” of the flu and covid-19 strain occurs? Will they form an alliance and act together, or will they quietly and peacefully disperse? Will the next viral monster be born, or will nature rest this time? There is no expert in the world who could give concrete answers to these questions. And all predictions are like a random number generator game. This uncertainty scares epidemiologists and doctors alike. And all that can be done is to protect the population from influenza – an infection that has been thoroughly studied and for which there are active vaccines. It was the annual immunization that reduced the flu to the “common cold”, the death rate from which could be significantly higher than that of the coronavirus. But systematic vaccination of at least 50% of the population saves thousands of lives.
Virus flashing
What is the danger of influenza? This virus is the leader in volatility in the world of mutations, only a woman’s mood can match it. Moreover, this infectious agent is able to enter into intimate relationships with colleagues parasitizing animals, and produce true chimeras. The more mutations, the higher the chances of a virus that is fatal to humans, and in a short time.
“There are two types of variability in influenza – antigenic drift and antigenic shift,” explains Mikhail Chumakov, chief epidemiologist of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova. – Drift is point mutations that occur in the “old” strain that has been circulating in the population for more than one season. But with the help of these “updates” of the viral “program”, the flu, from which we have already been vaccinated or which we have had, finds vulnerabilities in our immunity. And then we get sick again. Therefore, every year we update the influenza vaccine and carry out immunization of the population, due to which the mortality rate from this infection is 0.1%, and there is no pandemic. ” Antigenic shift is another matter – during this mutation, new pandemic influenza viruses appear. It is these strains that are capable of quarantining the whole world and significantly reducing the human population. “This happened in 2009 with the H1N1 swine flu, which originated in Mexico in the body of an unidentified pig. Usually pigs, whose genetic makeup is very close to us, plant a new variant of human flu. Then we were planted with the H1N1 strain, called “California”, from which 60 million people fell ill, and more than 500 thousand died, “Chumakov recalls. This year, he said, “California” started to drift and slightly modified its strain, which could cause an epidemic if not vaccinated.
Barbarossa Plan
The new H1N1 strain has received the symbolic name “Guangdong”. Together with him, “Hong Kong”, “Washington” and “Phuket” are moving to Russia and Mordovia. As the saying goes, if in self-isolation Mohammed does not go to the mountain, then the mountain begins to take revenge. At the same time, “Washington” is visiting Russians for the first time, and, accordingly, there is no immunity against it. But it does not cause serious concern among epidemiologists. “Washington” and “Phuket” refer to influenza B, which, as a rule, does not mutate and therefore is less dangerous and passes in a mild form. But since “Washington” never circulated in Russia, it was also included in the vaccine for this season. As a result, a tetravalent drug was developed that will contain the antigens of these four strains, ”explains Mikhail Chumakov. And the new vaccine will be the only weapon capable of withstanding the attack of the aggressor.
Better with a shield than a shield
However, the “fifth column” may also interfere with the virus.
Many Russians like foaming at the mouth to prove the “harm of vaccination”, “violating the DNA of immunity”, but at the same time they have absolutely no idea how the vaccine works and works. And ignorance, as you know, gives birth to monsters. As you know, any viral infection causes an immune response in the body – upon invasion, it immediately recognizes a foreign antigen and, with the help of antibodies, seeks to destroy it. Once the infection is defeated, the memory of the immune response is “recorded” at the cellular level, and specific cells (lymphocytes) will remember this enemy for years, and sometimes for a lifetime. And then destroy it at a new invasion attempt. This is how our immunity works schematically. Once it became clear that for the sake of acquired immunity it is not at all necessary to be sick and suffer, it is enough to introduce a microscopic dose of the pathogen antigen in order to induce an immune response and create a specialized army of lymphocytes. This is how the principle of vaccination arose, which destroyed the most deadly infectious disease on the planet – smallpox, and also minimized poliomyelitis, tetanus, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, etc., and during an influenza epidemic – serious complications and deaths. Since the vaccine contains only the virus code – its antigen, it cannot cause the disease itself, but only the immune response to it, which can cause headaches, slight fatigue or a slight increase in temperature. Therefore, it is so important to follow the doctor’s recommendations after vaccination. “The only thing worth paying attention to is the contraindications for vaccination. As a rule, these are acute conditions with fever, when the immune response is directed to an already existing pathogen. In such conditions, the body simply will not respond to the injected antigen and the required antibodies will not be formed. And allergic reactions. If the components of the vaccine, most often chicken protein, cause allergies, then it should never be used again. But such cases are quite rare. By the way, allergy is also an immune response of the body, but in this case it mistakenly takes harmless substances for dangerous and starts an attack that leads to atypical reactions, ”Chumakov explains. At the same time, according to him, influenza vaccination is recommended for cancer patients and even pregnant women (in the second and third trimester), whose immunities are weakened and susceptible to infection. In these cases, the flu can lead to tragedy, and vaccination can save you from it. “There are cases that arm anti-vaccines. It happens when a person is vaccinated against the same flu, but still gets sick. This is possible if he was infected and was in the stage of the incubation period or violated the recommendations of doctors. For example, right after vaccination I went to the bathhouse with my friends. And it happens that the body has not given the proper immune response. Or the strain has managed to find vulnerabilities. But in any case, the vaccinated people do not have serious complications and deaths. All who die due to the flu were not vaccinated, ”the expert assures. Now that the principle of vaccination is clearly explained, everyone must decide for themselves which is better: to be during a virus attack with a shield – or on a shield.
… Adults, successful people, think about your parents, vaccinate them against influenza and pneumococcus. If you are thinking about your grandparents, parents and other people close to you of a decent age – vaccinate them! Two shots against influenza and pneumococcus will reduce the risk of influenza and pneumonia complications …
Influenza + covid = …
This year, specialists pay special attention to vaccination of the population during the autumn-winter season. Coronavirus mixed with flu and SARS. Given the significant number of asymptomatic cases of covid and those who have had this infection, which has led to a decrease in the general immune status of the population, the incidence of influenza can increase dramatically. And if you remember that a previously unknown “Washington” and a mutated “California” are moving towards Russia, then the picture becomes quite sad. “It is very important for us to reduce this year the incidence of influenza and SARS, which, like the coronavirus, affect the respiratory tract and cause pneumonia. We do not know what will happen when these two infections meet, how our body will react, what the rate of morbidity and mortality will be. Therefore, the government decided to increase the volume of vaccination and bring it from 50% to 60% for the entire population and up to 75% for children and people at risk, ”says Mikhail Chumakov. Thus, in Mordovia, within the framework of the National Calendar, it is planned to vaccinate 402 710 people, including 99 561 children and 303 149 adults, including students of universities and SPU, as well as public sector workers. 85,985 residents of the republic suffering from chronic diseases, who will also be vaccinated, are under special control. A total of 70 thousand people who are not included in the National Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations will be additionally vaccinated against influenza this year. This means that it will be free for them. It will cost the republic 11 million rubles. “The first large tranche of influenza vaccine in the amount of 111 thousand doses for the adult population and 40 thousand doses for the child population will arrive in the republic on August 10-15. It will be distributed to medical organizations for free immunization. First of all, people with chronic diseases, people over 60, children from organized groups will be vaccinated, ”Chumakov explains.
Blow to pneumonia
But not only the flu will be free of charge this year. Russia focuses on vaccination of the adult population against pneumococcus, which causes pneumonia. In general, this vaccination is on the National Calendar for children under two years of age, who receive it several times. After that, the child develops immunity to pneumococcus. The vaccine is an American development, it contains antigens of the 13 most dangerous and severe strains of the pathogen, which makes it a reliable shield against bacterial pneumonia. It has been included in the Russian National Calendar since 2014, that is, the generation of Russians, who are now 5–6 years old or less, are protected from pneumococcal infection for life. The vaccine itself is not cheap – more than 1000 rubles. per dose, but despite this, the state decided to vaccinate the adult population at risk. In the republic this year, vaccination against pneumococcus will affect 11 722 young children and 15 306 adults, primarily people 60+, suffering from chronic lung diseases, diabetes mellitus with a burdened clinical history, with transplanted organs and bone marrow, conscripts and living in social organizations. service. The first tranche of the pneumococcal vaccine was delivered to Mordovia on July 30 in the amount of 2,660 doses and the cost of 3.9 million rubles. The rest of the volume (about 12,600 doses) will be purchased in August – September. “The pneumococcal vaccine will be administered at the same time as the influenza vaccine. This is a common practice, and in this way we form immunity against two diseases at once. Why is pneumococcal vaccine so important? The fact is that covid patients die not only from covid pneumonia, but often from bacterial pneumonia, which is superimposed on viral. And the most common causative agent of bacterial pneumonia is pneumococcus. Therefore, this vaccination can really save lives when infected with coronavirus, ”says Mikhail Chumakov. 15 thousand doses from pneumococcus – is it a lot or a little for Mordovia? The authorities assure that they will consider options for making the vaccine available to everyone. True, already at their own expense.
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