This is the kind of shot that maybe discomforting at first but is all worth the pain. A flu shot. A vaccine against the Influenza virus.
I have been invited to a Flu Awareness Seminar and I’d like to share 10 things about Flu that I learned from the talk by Dr. Ruby Dizon of Sanofi Pasteur.
- Cannot be treated with antibiotics – Flu is a viral infection, antibiotics are for bacterial infection hence, antiobiotics are not effective for flu.
- Influenza is a respiratory virus but it is different from the common cold virus.
- There are three types of flu - Type A (serious, most common), B, and C (avian).
- The flu last for about 3-5 days, which can develop to more sever symptoms like pneumonia, dehydration, ear infection, etc.
- In the Philippines, flu is most common during the rainy season or between June to August and colder months from December to February.
- A vaccine is effective for about a year. If you plan to get it, better to have it on March when the new vaccines for the new strain has been prepared. Having flu shots on March will cover both the rainy and cold months for the new strain.
- People at risk are: those 50 years old and above, children 4 months to 5 years old, pregnant, those with certain chronic diseases, with medical conditions (i.e. asthma, kidney-related, cardiac/heart-related), people living in high risk areas or conditions (i.e hospitals ), household contacts and out of home caregivers
- Prevention – apart from the usual diet and hygiene related tips, it best to have the latest vaccine.
- Vaccine takes about 2 weeks to take effect.
- Contraindication – TRUE allergy to chicken egg.
*Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company in the world which is devoted in creating safe human vaccines.
In these times when global crisis is all over the new paper, having vaccines is sometimes thought of as a want rather than a need. Well, true it’s not so cheap, but medical expenses aren’t cheap as well.
From what I gathered, some doctors charge about Php 1,500 for a shot (which is around Php 4/day in year). Better than paying an average of Php 2000/day in hospital room for confinement.
Bakunado ka na ba? I am, take a shot, better be safe than sorry.
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