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As soon as winter arrives, respiratory diseases start increasing. But many people consider common cold and influenza as the same disease.
According to doctors, the problem can increase from here because influenza can make some people seriously ill. Due to negligence, there may be a possibility of hospitalization.
There are many types of flu vaccines available to prevent this. Experts in lung diseases say that in case of flu, the vaccine can reduce the risk of the disease becoming serious and hospitalization.
According to America's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the influenza vaccine protects against flu and the serious problems caused by it.
Vaccine can save you from hospitalization!
Awareness regarding flu vaccine is gradually increasing in India. Dr. Surendra, an expert in lung diseases from Visakhapatnam, says that this vaccine is especially given to those people who are at high risk of falling seriously ill.
These include small children with weak immunity and people suffering from long-standing diseases like serious heart disease, asthma or diabetes.
Even in Britain and America, some such sections are given free flu vaccine by the government.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices issues advice related to flu vaccine for each season.
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Dr Fiona Neely, a health security adviser at the UK Health Security Agency, told the BBC: "In addition to young children, people with asthma, other lung diseases and heart, liver or kidney problems are at higher risk of developing other complications and being admitted to hospital due to flu."
Who gets a free flu vaccine?
In Britain, flu vaccination starts even before the start of winter.
There, free vaccine is given to students, pregnant women and people above 65 years of age.
In India, it is stated on the website of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of the Central Government that the pentavalent vaccine is given free of cost to children.
According to the information given on the website, this vaccine is given to children aged six weeks to one year.
Pentavalent vaccine protects children from five serious diseases.
These include diphtheria, pertussis i.e. whooping cough, tetanus, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B i.e. Hib.
According to the government, due to these diseases, there is a risk of pneumonia, meningitis, liver failure and serious respiratory problems. In some cases these can also be fatal.
This risk is higher in children below five years of age. Therefore, the government advises children to get vaccinated as per the scheduled time.
How does the vaccine work against changing flu viruses?
Some people have a question in their mind whether the flu vaccine also affects new forms of the virus.
Doctors say that the form of flu virus keeps changing with time. Keeping these changes in mind, the vaccine is also changed as per the suggestions of the World Health Organization.
Influenza viruses change constantly. Therefore, experts have to predict in advance which form of the virus may spread in the coming season.
The World Health Organization had made an important announcement in this regard in February 2026. The organization had released the list of flu vaccines for the 2026-27 season.
Due to constant changes in flu viruses, the World Health Organization reviews the vaccine list twice a year.
Different vaccine lists are prepared for the northern and southern parts of the world.
What are the benefits of flu vaccine?
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According to Dr. Surendra, rainy and winter seasons can be difficult for people suffering from heart and lung diseases.
If such people get influenza, their condition can become serious. In some cases it can also become fatal. To protect against such a situation, doctors recommend flu vaccine.
However, this vaccine does not protect against common cold.
Dr. Surendra says, "People suffering from long-standing diseases like asthma may find their disease becoming more serious if they contract influenza."
"After this, pneumonia may occur and there may be a need for hospitalization. The flu vaccine can provide advance protection to avoid such a situation."
"Even small children have less strength to fight diseases. This vaccine can give them good protection too."
He says, "We recommend flu vaccine to prevent influenza. However, it cannot be said that this vaccine will give 100 percent protection. It also works like other vaccines."
According to him, getting the vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of high fever, pneumonia and lung infection caused by influenza.
This also reduces the risk of hospitalization due to flu. The risk may also be reduced for people suffering from any disease for a long time.
Doctor Surendra says, "Cold weather helps the virus to spread. People who are at high risk of the disease can avoid serious health problems by getting the flu vaccine in advance."
What does the research on flu vaccine say?
A CDC research included people admitted to hospital due to flu.
It was found that the severity of the disease was less among those who had received the flu vaccine.
CDC has published information related to this on its website.
According to the organization, in the data collected from the year 2018, there was a reduction of up to 50 percent in the cases of death and admission in ICU of those who were vaccinated.
Do pregnant women and their children also get protection?
According to the CDC, getting the flu vaccine during pregnancy can protect a woman from flu even after the birth of her child.
Along with this, it can also help in protecting the baby from flu for a few months after birth.
Does the flu vaccine have side effects?
The CDC says that usually only minor side effects are seen after getting the flu vaccine.
There may be pain, red marks or swelling at the injection site. Some people may also feel mild fever, muscle pain, nausea or fatigue.
The CDC states on its website that after getting the flu vaccine, there may be a slight increase in the risk of developing a rare disease called Guillain-Barré syndrome. This is a disease related to nerves.
According to the CDC, "the vaccine is very unlikely to cause serious allergic reactions, other serious health problems, or death."
"People who think they have been harmed by the flu vaccine should contact their doctor and get appropriate treatment."
What precautions should be taken after the vaccine?
Interventional Pulmonologist i.e. lung specialist Dr. Gutta Lokesh told about the precautions to be taken after getting the vaccine.
He says that after getting the vaccine, most people can do their daily tasks normally.
There may be some pain at the injection site. Mild fatigue or slight fever may also occur in the body, but these problems usually resolve on their own.
According to Doctor Lokesh, taking complete rest and drinking plenty of fluids can provide relief.
He also answered some common questions that arise in people's minds regarding flu vaccine.
Does the flu vaccine also protect against the common cold?
No. Common cold is caused by many other viruses. Therefore the flu vaccine does not protect against it.
Is the flu vaccine available only as an injection?
Flu vaccine is usually given in the form of injection.
However, in some countries a nasal spray vaccine is also available for people of certain ages.
Unlike polio vaccine, flu vaccine is not usually given as oral drops.
When should the flu vaccine be administered?
It is better to get vaccinated before the spread of flu increases.
However, getting vaccinated after the start of flu season can still provide protection from the disease during that season.
How long does the protection provided by the vaccine last?
The body becomes protected from flu in about two weeks after getting the vaccine.
But with the passage of time this protection gradually starts reducing. The form of spreading flu virus also changes with time.
That is why it is generally advised to get the flu vaccine every year.
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
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