Can vaccination with Vigigrip prevent bird flu?

Currently in big cities, people rush to get the flu vaccine. Many people believe that the vaccine will not be infected with bird flu, but there are many people who claim, such injections are only for peace of mind and prevention of regular flu.

We met with Pharmacist Nguyen Thi Huong - In charge of Pharmacy Department, Viet Phap Hospital, Hanoi to get the necessary information about this vaccine.

What is Vaxigrip?

Vaxigrip is a flu vaccine of 2005/2006. This is an injection suspension pre-loaded in a 0.5 ml syringe or in a 0.5 ml ampoule. This vaccine is called VAXIGRIP, produced by Aventis Pasteur, a French pharmaceutical company, and has been approved for use by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.

This vaccine is used to prevent influenza, especially in people at high risk of complications.

Can Vaxigrip prevent A / H5N1 flu?

This vaccine prevents three common, common flu strains of 2005 and 2006. Because influenza is characterized by seasonal changes, it is best to get a yearly flu shot, or at the beginning of autumn in other countries. temperate climate, or early stages of risk of disease in tropical countries.

* With influenza A / H5N1: If unfortunately infected with common flu right at the time of influenza A / H5N1 outbreak, influenza virus will often combine with H5N1 to create a new strain of influenza virus, capable of spreading from people to people. Therefore, vaccination withaxigrip will reduce the likelihood of flu viruses coming together, limiting the likelihood of an outbreak of disease. In addition, Vaxigrip vaccination also helps doctors quickly find out who is infected with the flu, because if the vaccine is given, it is almost impossible to catch the flu.

When should not inject Vaxigrip?

That's when you:

- Allergy to active ingredients, to any adjuvant of the vaccine, to eggs, to chicken proteins, with neomycine, with formaldehyde, with octoxinol-9.

- Fever caused by acute illness or infection (in this case it is best to postpone the vaccination until the disease is gone).

What should be noted before and after injection?

You need to be very careful and tell your doctor if you have an immune deficiency, allergy or any unusual reaction after the previous vaccination (especially for small children).

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should only get this vaccine when they have a doctor's opinion.

For those who regularly drive and use machines: There is currently no claim that vaccines affect the ability to drive and use machinery. It is best to be examined carefully by the doctor and appointed with each specific case.

The injection should sit for 5 to 10 minutes to avoid being shocked.

If your child is in the period of other vaccines, will Vaxigrip affect those vaccines?

Vaxigrip may be used at the same time as other vaccines but must be administered at another location.

If you or your child is sick, tell your doctor or pharmacist about any treatment, other medicines, even over-the-counter medicines that you are taking or have just taken.

How to strictly adhere to the indication of Vaxprip injection according to the right age?

About dosage: Adults and children over 36 months, inject a dose of 0.5 ml; Children aged 6 to 35 months receive a dose of 0.25 ml

About the number of injections: For children (under 8 years of age) who have not been vaccinated before, the second dose must be given at least 4 weeks after the first dose. From 8 years of age, only one injection.

Only intramuscularly or deeply subcutaneously, never inject this vaccine into the bloodstream.

Doesaxigrip have side effects?

Like other drugs, Vaxigrip can cause side effects. Specifically, through clinical studies, common side effects include:

Local reactions: erythema (red halo), swelling, pain, bruising, hard nodules.

Systemic reactions: fever, irritability, tremor, fatigue, headache, sweating, muscle pain, joint pain.

These reactions usually go away after 1-2 days without treatment.

When monitoring during the vaccination process, experts noted the following side effects:

Uncommon: Systemic skin reactions including itching, urticaria or rash.

Vaxigrip preservation issue

When you get an injection, you should be told if the vaccine is stored and used properly. This type of vaccine needs to be preserved quite elaborately: it must be kept in a refrigerator at temperatures from + 2oC to + 8oC and protected from light, not frozen, and should not be used when changed color or strange elements appear, do not use when the expiry date indicated on the label or on the packaging.

Therefore, according to Pharmacist Huong, you should not buy the vaccine yourself and ask the vaccination person. Vaccines are very sensitive, in the process of bringing home from the pharmacy, the vaccine may be damaged and you cannot know it. At this point, it is very dangerous to get the vaccine into your body.

Vaccination should be carried out in reliable hospitals and medical facilities. Because only these places provide drugs that are preserved, stored in warehouses and strictly follow the standards and guidelines of the manufacturer, according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.

Kieu Nga - An Cuong.