Why get vaccinated against influenza and is it possible to get a vaccine for free – personal experience

Influenza, like coronavirus, is dangerous with a severe course, complications and the risk of death. So I, Svetlana Evseeva, the editor of the “Great” project, decided to get a flu shot in order to be as protected as possible during the season of mass morbidity. And from COVID-19, I took root in the summer. I share my experience that it is imperative to know before how to get a flu shot.

Why get flu shots when you can get sick anyway?

I want to note right away that flu shot is optional, is not included in the National Vaccination Schedule and whether to do it or not is a private matter for everyone. But I did. Why? Because in October I got 2 times with an incomprehensible cold, with a temperature of 39, coughing, inability to get out of bed and work normally (I passed the PCR test for covid and the test turned out to be negative).

Vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe flu and death from illness / Photo: Flickr

Given the prospect of a repetition of the situation, I found out the opinion of doctors and specialized structures (that is, the Ministry of Health and the WHO) on this matter. Although I am personally “in favor” of vaccination in general and without their opinion. So, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine notes that vaccination is significantly reduces the risk of severe flu and death by disease. The same is true for the coronavirus.

It turns out, covid and seasonal flu by far the most pressing infectious diseases to be vaccinated against. After all, a person with any of these diseases, even in a mild form, can infect others.

Besides, the effects of the flu there may be pneumonia and heart failure. Therefore, the only cure for these risks is vaccination.

What do doctors say about influenza vaccination?

Doctors also speak about the importance of vaccinations as an effective means of preventing infectious diseases. And we have talked about this many times in the materials of the “Great” project. Therefore, I will briefly repeat – for example, family doctor, therapist and ultrasound diagnostic specialist Anna Krasyuk notes that world medicine has long proven the effectiveness and need for vaccinations, including against the flu.

A flu shot in case of infection with any strain will help avoid severe illness, and will also protect people at risk from hospitalization (which often develop during hospitalization with influenza or severe ARVI) and seasonal pneumonia.

A flu shot can help prevent complications such as pneumonia / Photo: freepik.com

It will also reduce the risks of developing severe viral pneumonia in case of coronavirus infection. That’s why if you are at risk (chronic diseases – diabetes, etc., old age, constant contact with a large number of people), it is equally important now to be vaccinated directly against both COVID-19 and influenza.

Get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 it is possible at the same time, in one day, but subject to special rules. According to the recommendations of the National Technical Expert Group on Immunization, these two shots can be given without interval, but in different hands. In this case, it is important to indicate the hand in which the COVID-19 vaccination was carried out.

Where can I get a flu shot for free?

As I said, the flu shot is not included in the National Vaccine Schedule. However, the vaccine can be purchased at pharmacies, and the vaccination itself is free of charge in a medical facility where a declaration is made with your family doctor.

Important! If you decide to buy the vaccine at the pharmacy, and introduce it at the polyclinic where your family doctor sees it, then it is imperative deliver the drug correctly… That is, you need a cooler bag in which you will transport the drug.

It is advisable to vaccinate as soon as possible after the vaccine is purchased. The best way – consult with your therapist, pediatrician or family doctor beforehand. This way you can get answers to your questions, advice on transporting the vaccine and agree on a time for vaccination.

Before vaccination – be sure to go through a doctor’s examination and get admission to vaccination / Photo: freepik.com

The Ministry of Health notes that all influenza vaccines available in Ukraine are safe and effective against all strains of the influenza virus. Also now many pharmacies inoculate right at home: a person buys a vaccine, receives immediate advice and is given a drug.

I used my health insurance, chose a clinic, went there and got vaccinated – I was offered the French vaccine Vaxigripp. Before vaccination – mandatory examination by a therapist.

Medical examination before vaccination – what you need to know

Even when registering for the vaccination, I was thoroughly asked over the telephone about the diseases I had suffered, allergies to medications, etc. Before vaccination – obligatory examination by a doctor, in addition to collecting anamnesis, this is a questioning about past illnesses, conditions of my life, currently taken medications, etc., monitoring of basic health indicators.

So, we checked:

• the state of the oral cavity – are there any signs of inflammation, for example, saying that I have a sore throat
• control of body temperature, moreover, with a mercury thermometer and very carefully – in order to achieve the most accurate indicators. The temperature turned out to be 36.8, the doctor noted that if it were higher than 37, then she would not recommend the vaccine
• control of pressure, pulse and saturation – here I have everything, like an Olympian before the start , then careful listening to heart sounds and wheezing in the lungs – these were not found.

With the conclusion “healthy” I was sent to the vaccination room. Yes, I filled out the agreement, in which she again indicated her health indicators and signed that she was notified of all the consequences. I want to add from myself that do not hide your health problems – even the presence of varicose veins is important, and in certain cases it may become a refusal to vaccinate, not to mention acute allergic reactions.

After examination, the therapist gives an opinion, with which he sends to the vaccination room / Photo: Svetlana Evsevva

So, the questionnaire is completed, I go to the manipulation room. Fast, clear, painless… It’s cool that the ampoule with the drug is equipped with a needle – this is a mini-syringe that is used to inject the vaccine.

I was offered the French inactivated vaccine “Vaxigripp”, this option suited me / Photo: Collage: Today

Got instructions how to behave after vaccination (do not wet the injection site, do not load the arm into which the drug was injected, 3 days), waited 10-15 minutes to make sure if I had a reaction – and they let me go in peace.

I was vaccinated on Saturday, November 13, – today, November 15, still there is still pain in the hand… There were no fever, malaise and other reactions at all.

Life hack from doctors: if you have been vaccinated and you need not wet it for a day, do not remove the patchwho closed the injection site until you shower in the evening. And be healthy!

We also wrote how not to get complications after SARS and flu.