The many benefits of the flu vaccine

Recent studies show that the flu vaccine also helps reduce serious complications of Covid-19.

The relationship between flu vaccine and Covid-19

People who are vaccinated against influenza can be protected from serious complications, reduce hospitalizations and less medical care, according to new research from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. emergency (ICU) due to Covid-19.

Seasonal flu vaccine IVACFLU-S produced by IVAC IVAC

This study was carried out on nearly 75,000 Covid-19 patients, divided into 2 groups equally and closely similar in age, gender, ethnicity, health problems including diabetes and lung disease. , lifestyle factors such as diet and smoking habits or not. Accordingly, people with Covid-19 who have received the seasonal flu vaccine will significantly reduce the rate of stroke, deep vein thrombosis, sepsis, reduce the risk of emergency hospital admission, special medical care due to Covid. -19.

According to scientists, the cause may be because the flu vaccine helps strengthen the immune system – the body’s general “shield” system that aims to fight many pathogens in the environment. This means that patients who have received the flu vaccine may be in better health than those who do not.

The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC – a unit under the Ministry of Health) said that every year in Vietnam, about 1.2 – 1.5 million people get flu syndrome, of which 20-30% are caused by influenza syndrome. caused by seasonal influenza virus. Previously, our country lacked a sustainable flu vaccine supply and had to rely on foreign manufacturers. Currently, self-production of seasonal flu vaccines is a great achievement.

Testing chicken eggs with embryos for flu vaccine production at IVAC IVAC

In Vietnam, the seasonal flu vaccine IVACFLU – S is researched, developed and produced by IVAC based on embryonic chicken egg technology. Accordingly, with the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the support of a number of international and domestic organizations, IVAC has successfully researched a seasonal flu vaccine (with 3 strains of A/H1N1, A/H3N2, influenza B). On January 14, 2019, this vaccine was officially licensed for circulation by the Ministry of Health. Currently, IVAC’s seasonal flu vaccine capacity is 1.5 million doses/year. This is considered a great achievement in improving Vietnam’s vaccine production capacity and pandemic preparedness. IVAC’s efforts to self-produce flu vaccines not only benefit the people of Vietnam, but also help increase the supply of flu vaccines in the region and around the world.

Defensive “shield”

Currently, the Covid-19 epidemic is still affecting people’s lives in different ways. The concern of the epidemic is the potential risk of an outbreak when the flu is “in season”. If flu vaccination rates do not remain consistently high, influenza will still cause severe impacts globally, besides the impact of Covid-19 is a potential concern for Covid-19 co-infection. and flu.

A mixed infection between Covid-19 and seasonal flu can become a serious health problem, as both the seasonal flu virus and Covid-19 multiply in cells in the inner membranes of blood vessels. . When these cells are damaged, virus particles are carried through the bloodstream to all organs and infect their cells. Therefore, infection with both viruses can cause more malignancy in the patient if the patient is sick with any virus (Covid-19 or seasonal flu).

Research and production process of influenza vaccine at IVAC IVAC

The benefits of influenza vaccination are demonstrated by providing specific immune stimulation for influenza viruses, reducing influenza cases and hospitalizations; Non-specific innate immunity provides additional protection, reducing the risk of hospitalization and serious complications caused by Covid-19. Although the flu shot cannot provide complete immunity against Covid-19, it can protect the vaccinated person against either disease and help reduce the confusion of symptoms of Covid-19 and seasonal flu for treatment. timely.

According to the World Health Organization, seasonal flu is usually caused by influenza A or B viruses. Symptoms include a sudden onset of fever, cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, sore throat, and runny nose. Seasonal flu epidemics occur mainly during winter, from October to March in countries in the northern hemisphere and from April to September in countries in the southern hemisphere. Vietnam belongs to the tropical monsoon region, flu epidemics often appear all year round, so people need to get vaccinated against both northern and southern hemisphere flu strains.

According to experts, the best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot every year. Because influenza viruses mutate constantly, the World Health Organization recommends annual immunization for people in high-risk groups, including health care workers. The best time to get the vaccine is right before the flu season starts to make sure it’s most effective. Seasonal flu vaccine IVACFLU – S is researched, developed and produced by IVAC in Vietnam. Therefore, it is always timely to respond to the people’s needs for flu vaccines as well as when there is an outbreak of a pandemic.