Influenza vaccine, to whom it is recommended

With autumn is coming seasonal flu, which this year seems to anticipate the usual times, and so the advice to book the flu shot. How reports the Bambino Gesù Hospital in Rome, from June to today have already been identified the first 16 cases of H3n2 virus infectiona rather common strain in recent years and one of the main culprits of the so-called “Australian” influence. Flu season, that of this year, which takes place in a delicate and constantly changing epidemiological context, because, as in previous years, it could overlap with infections due to Sars-cov-2.

This is why, according to the Ministry of Health, vaccination remains the best prevention strategy against these diseases: all Italian regions, in fact, should be ready with theto administration of the flu vaccine from mid-October, others from even earlier. Let’s see for whom it is recommended and when.

What is the Australian influence

The cases reported by the Infant Jesus of Rome are children who came to the emergency room for problems with the respiratory systemwhose samples were analyzed from a molecular point of view: the researchers identified in all cases the H3n2 virus, one of the main culprits of the so-called “Australian” flu, which manifests itself with the typical symptoms of seasonal illness, such as tiredness, pain in bones and muscles, fever and problems with the respiratory and gastrointestinal systemsbut, just like other diseases caused by other flu strains, it poses a risk in the most frail people.

“The wave of infections, which started about 6 months in advance from the southern hemisphere, including Australia, promises to be intense also in Italy, already reached by the virus since the beginning of the summer“, said Carlo Federico Perno, head of the Microbiology and Immunology Diagnostics Department of the Roman hospital. This is why it is necessary to play in advance: in fact, according to the press release, in Italy the administration of the updated flu vaccinewhich also includes coverage for the H3n2 strain, will begin on 1 October next. For this Alberto Villani, director of the Department of Emergency, Acceptance and General Pediatrics of the Child Jesus, exhorts to “vaccinate all children, especially frail children, from 6 months of age against the flu“. Not only that: the flu vaccination is recommended because the 2022/2023 flu season could overlap with a new wave of Covid-19 infections, with additional health risks for those most at risk. “The dual vaccination, anti-flu and anti-Covid, is particularly important and suitable for all the most fragile population groups“concludes Villani.

Influenza vaccines, for whom and when

There delicate epidemiological situation of the next flu season was also underlined by Circular Influenza prevention and control issued by the Ministry of Health and the Higher Institute of Health (Iss) last July 6. Due to the circulation of Sars-cov-2, in fact, the document recommends anticipate influenza vaccination campaigns from the beginning of October and to offer vaccination to the indicated subjects at any time. This is because, as usual, but even more so in recent years, it’s hard to guess what the next flu season will be likeas stated by ad Ansa.it Claudio Cricelli, president of the Italian Society of General Medicine (Simg). “The flu is always unpredictable, it always has a high complication rate, Covid-19 is still present among us and we do not know the complications. The invitation is to get vaccinated, not only for those who have a recommendation, but also for all others for whom it is not specifically indicated“.

In particular, however, the Ministry of Health recommends the influenza vaccination in the age group ranging from 6 months to 6 years, also in order to reduce the circulation of the virus between adults and the elderly. In addition to children, to facilitate the diagnosis of age groups who are most at risk of serious illness and complicationslike older people, the flu vaccination is strongly recommended between 60 and 64 years. In addition, vaccination is recommended for healthcare professionals working in contact with patients, and for the elderly in long-term care facilities.

Compared to the categories for which it is recommended, he adds, “we have lowered the age from 65 to 60 years, and to these are naturally added the frail, pregnant women and health workers. Already many people go to the family doctor to make an appointment“, concludes Cricelli.