Nasal spray for children as a flu shot

Flu wave comes: Now for flu shot: Nasal spray with vaccine for children

09/29/2013

Soon the time has come and the time of the cold and coughing begins. Winter is approaching and with it the next flu epidemic. Most of these started in the last years in January / February. The best time for a flu shot is already in October or November. For children there are now also novel nasal sprays with a live vaccine available.

Vaccinate in October and November
It is not far to the next flu epidemic and anyone who wants to protect themselves from body aches, headache and sore throat, cough, runny nose and fever should be vaccinated already now, experts recommend. Above all, endangered people such as the chronically ill are advised to think about it in good time. According to doctors and health officials, October and November are the best times to vaccinate, because they build protection before the flu epidemic starts. Every year in Germany, one can expect a more or less severe flu epidemic, which in the past years usually began in January / February. However, the severity of a flu season can not be accurately predicted.

Flu from zero to a hundred
Dr. Karin Müller, head of the health department of the Kassel region, said the flu epidemic in 2012/2013 was unusually long and difficult with a duration of 19 weeks. „There were an estimated 7.7 million flu-related doctor visits nationwide with 3.4 million sick leave, which represents a new record in terms of the past ten years“, so the doctor. Nationwide, several thousand people die each year from the flu. Müller continues: „In contrast to the so-called flu-like infection, which usually begins creeping with headache, body aches, cold and sore throat, the onset of influenza is often abruptly within a few hours from zero to one hundred.“ „Those affected feel seriously ill shortly after the onset of illness and are barely resilient.“ If, as often happens in the elderly or the chronically ill, the immune system is weakened, the infection with the influenza virus can be fatal in extreme cases.

Vaccination recommended for risk groups
Therefore, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends vaccination primarily to older people over the age of 60, chronic patients with underlying conditions such as diabetes, asthma or cardiovascular diseases, medical personnel and pregnant women from the second trimester of pregnancy, because they are among the risk groups. However, no vaccine protects the vaccinees 100 percent. This is especially true for groups of people whose immune system is generally less responsive to vaccination or those who get vaccinated too late and may fall ill before vaccination coverage is established, which is usually the case after 10 to 14 days. In vaccinated it could also lead to an influenza disease, but may be milder.

Nasal sprays for children
People who had been vaccinated in the previous year should again seek protection because of the diminishing effect and because of the constantly changing pathogens. Patients who are currently experiencing an infection and have fever over 38.5 degrees Fever are recommended by experts to postpone a vaccine. For children over the age of two and adolescents up to the age of 18, there is also the option of administering a so-called live vaccine via a nasal spray. Studies show that this novel vaccine, at least in younger children, a better protective effect. The statutory funds assume the costs for people over 60 and other risk groups for which there is a vaccination recommendation, in any case. In addition, a whole range of coffers pays for all other vaccines.

Reservations in Naturopathy
The risk of infection could also be reduced by simple hygienic measures, in addition to vaccination. So regular hand washing is recommended as well as coughing and sneezing in the crook or in a disposable handkerchief. In addition, influenza sufferers should as far as possible avoid close contact with endangered persons. In Germany there is a certain mistrust of flu vaccines and since the inoculants in addition to the active ingredients for the most part contain preservatives based on formaldehyde and mercury compounds, there are also in natural medicine significant reservations against comprehensive flu shots. Here it is also pointed out that the influenza viruses are partly cultivated in egg white and therefore people with allergies should be careful. (Ad)

Image: Dieter Schütz