Contents:
- Medical Video: Vaccines: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
- People who are not recommended to get an influenza vaccine
- Infants under the age of 6 months
- People who are sick
- This group of people should consult a doctor first before the flu vaccine
- People who have allergies to the vaccine component
- People with Guillain Bare Syndrome (GBS)
Medical Video: Vaccines: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
Influenza or flu is a disease caused by a virus that is very contagious. If the person closest to you is affected by this disease, it's likely that your turn will come to feel the same pain. For this reason, influenza vaccine is considered to be a solution to prevent the transmission of flu viruses. Unfortunately, not everyone can get this vaccine. So, who is not recommended to get an influenza vaccine shot?
People who are not recommended to get an influenza vaccine
Some people might consider the flu to be a minor illness, but not always. Serious viral infections can cause severe symptoms. In this condition, patients need to get inpatient care, if not, even flu can cause death. In some people, such as the elderly, small children, and people with certain health conditions, there is a high risk of serious flu complications.
Although it can prevent contracting the flu, not everyone can get an influenza vaccine. There are some people with certain conditions that are absolutely not allowed to get a vaccine. Because vaccines given to these people can cause more risks than the benefits, even life-threatening.
List of people who cannot obtain influenza vaccine according to the CDC, namely:
Infants under the age of 6 months
Newborns get the immune system from their mothers for several weeks. After that, the immune system will develop and eventually become stronger.
Before entering the age of 6 months, the immune response in the baby's body still does not meet the requirements to be given a flu vaccine. If a flu vaccine is given, it can cause certain health problems.
Because the vaccine is made of a virus that has weakened its ability. Even so, the immune system of babies under 6 years old is not strong at all, so it still cannot survive the virus in the flu vaccine.
To avoid babies from spreading the virus, people who are near them need to get a flu vaccine. After babies are 6 months or older, they can only be given a vaccine.
At this age, the baby's immune system is able to fight the flu virus. This is important to prevent babies from seizures or diarrhea, even death from complications of flu later in life.
People who are sick
When sick the immune system becomes weaker, for example when you have a high fever. If you are given a vaccine, the immune system must work harder; fight viruses in the body as well as viruses from vaccines.
This can cause symptoms that occur after vaccination becomes more severe. So, the safe choice is to get a vaccine after the body has completely recovered from the disease.
This group of people should consult a doctor first before the flu vaccine
In Indonesia, the provision of influenza vaccines is not yet required. People who have the following conditions must consult with their doctor in advance about the benefits and risks that will be obtained after receiving the vaccine.
Some conditions that need consideration from a doctor before taking a flu shot include:
People who have allergies to the vaccine component
Initially the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) did not recommend giving flu vaccines to people who have egg allergies. The flu vaccine is known to cause allergic reactions in people with egg allergies. Because the vaccine given by injection contains a little egg protein, namely ovalbumin. This is feared to cause symptoms of itching and bumps on the skin.
However, there was a change in the regulation. People with allergies can still get flu vaccines, but with some conditions, namely vaccines given according to conditions, age, and of course licensed.
People with egg allergies are recommended to vaccinate in hospitals, as a treatment for follow-up if there is a severe allergic reaction that occurs, such as swelling in the body, respiratory problems, dizziness, or repeated vomiting. Usually, the patient will be observed for 30 minutes after receiving the flu vaccine.
People with Guillain Bare Syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to attack healthy nerve cells. This condition causes weakness, numbness, tingling, even paralysis.
The cause of this condition is unknown, but will appear when a person is sick, such as flu or lung infection. This disease cannot be cured, but some drugs can reduce the severity of symptoms and shorten the duration of the disease.
Flu which is one of the triggers for GBS makes vaccination very closely monitored. Because, in most people who have a history of GBS, high-risk serious complications occur after vaccination.
Richard K. Zimmerman, MD, MPH, a University of Pittsburgh professor said that people who have a history of GBS are far more likely to have GBS after influenza vaccination, as reported by Patient Care. Zimmerman also suggested that people who have severe flu complications related to GBS should not need to vaccinate.
