Flu vaccine service season 2023/2024 at FMP Hanoi

When is the flu season?

Influenza viruses can infect people all year round, however, they tend to spread efficiently in the cold weather, especially winter. This is due to the fact that, in the cold weather, the flu virus will create a hard coating, which acts like a protective film, helping the virus to spread through the cold air.

In Vietnam, according to flu epidemiology studies, the flu season may reach its peak around October and March annually.

Cold vs Flu

In spite of the fact that flu and common cold are both contagious respiratory diseases, they are caused by different viruses.

Flu is caused by influenza viruses only, meanwhile there can be a number of different viruses causing the common cold including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses (according to CDC, 2021). Seasonal coronaviruses (sCoVs) is not the virus that causes COVID-19 (SARS-COV-2).

However, it is hard to distinguish flu and common cold based on the symptoms alone as they have many in accord. In general, flu is said to be worse than the common cold with more intense symptoms and complications that may cause. Common cold may not result in serious health concern such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

Why should I take the flu vaccine annually?

First and foremost, the flu viruses are changing regularly, the flu vaccine needs to be reviewed and updated to help protect against the most common viruses of the new season. Also, antibodies created from vaccines, which help to protect people from flu, would decrease over time. Its protective effect may last from 6 - 12 months, and by that means, everyone 6 months and older should take the flu vaccine annually.

Who should vaccinate?

According to CDC, everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza (flu) vaccine every season with rare exceptions. This is the recommendation of CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices since the 2010-2011 influenza season.

Vaccination can help to prevent flu and its severe complications, which is essential for people at higher risk as below:

People 65 years and older
People with underlying medical conditions: ex., asthma, diabete, heart & stroke disease, chronic kidney disease
Pregnant people
Young children above 6 months

Who should not be vaccinated for the flu?

In general, vaccines are not for use in children under 6 months old as they were too young.
People with severe allergic reactions should consult with the doctor and conduct vital signs prior to vaccination.

When should I get vaccinated?

As vaccines may take up to 2 weeks to generate enough antibodies to protect people against disease, it is recommended to get the vaccinated prior to the flu season. Ideally, everyone aged 6 months and above should be vaccinated by the end of October. Some of the high risk group should take below recommendation into considerations:

Adults above 65 years old should generally get vaccinated prior to the flu season to have the most efficiency of the vaccine. Early adoption may not be recommended as vaccine protection will decrease overtime.
Children under 9 years old that have not caught the flu nor get the flu shot before should take 2 doses of flu vaccination. By that means, they should get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available because the time frame between 2 doses should be at least 1 month.
Pregnant women who are in their third trimester should consider to take early vaccination in order to help protect their infants during the first months of life (as infants cannot get vaccinated)

Quadrivalent flu vaccine season 2023/2024 at FMP Hanoi

This flu season 2023/2024, for the first time in Vietnam, we will have the quadrivalent vaccine which can help to protect against 4 virus strains instead of 3 as previous years. At FMP, we will have Influvac Tetra vaccine, an inactivated influenza vaccine that are made to protect you from 2 flu type A and 2 flu type B as following:

A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1) pdm09 - like strain

A/Darwin/9/2021 (H3N2) - like strain

B/Austria/1359417/2021 - like strain

B/Phuket/3073/2013 - like strain

Injection fee: 400.000 VND / shot

Inbox us: http://m.me/FamilyMedicalPracticeHanoi

☎️ 024 3843 0748 - 112, 117 (24/7)

Email: hanoi@vietnammedicalpractice.com