Can I choose the brand of flu vaccine? Which ethnic groups can be vaccinated at public expense? Understand the "6 major questions" about influenza vaccines at once
According to monitoring data from the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Centers for Disease Control, as of October 1, there have been 773 severe cases of influenza (Influenza), and 172 people have died. The epidemic has increased significantly compared with the same period last year; therefore, the risk It is urgent for the ethnic groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible. And which groups are prioritized for public-funded vaccines? Can four types of vaccines be selected? Let’s take a look at the compiled report of “healthorn”.
When will the publicly funded flu vaccine begin? “These groups” are eligible to be vaccinated quickly
When will the publicly funded flu vaccine begin? Which ethnic groups are eligible for vaccination? Taiwan Centers for Disease Control pointed out that the implementation period of publicly funded influenza vaccination will be from October 2, 2023, and will be implemented in phases until the vaccine is used up. The various implementation targets of the influenza vaccination program must have national status of Taiwan (if they are foreigners, they must hold a residence permit, including a diplomat’s certificate, an official’s certificate of an international organization, and an official’s certificate of a foreign organization). The implementation targets and their start schedule are as follows :
Phase 1 (starting from 10/2)
Medical and health and epidemic prevention personnel
Seniors aged 65 and above
Care recipients and staff of nursing homes, long-term care (services) and other institutions
Children over 6 months old and before entering elementary school
pregnant woman
High-risk chronic patients with underlying diseases
Those with a BMI (greater than) 30
Patients with rare diseases and major injuries
Students from elementary school to high school (vocational) and fifth grade junior college
Parents of babies under 6 months old
Professionals and nannies in kindergartens and childcare institutions
Poultry industry and animal epidemic prevention personnel
Phase 2 (starting from 11/1)
- Adults aged 50 to 64 without high-risk chronic conditions
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control further pointed out that the vaccine used in Taiwan is composed of virus strains recommended by the World Health Organization for the northern hemisphere that are updated every year, and its protective efficacy is the same as that of other countries in the world. The quadrivalent vaccine used in Taiwan contains 4 types of inactivated viruses, namely 2 types A (H1N1 and H3N2) and 2 types B.
As for why chicken embryo egg-cultured vaccines and cell-cultured vaccines use different vaccine virus strains? Taiwan Centers for Disease Control stated that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), in some cases, the selected virus strains may not be suitable for two different vaccine processes at the same time. In this case, the selected virus strains can be most effectively replicated in the individual processes. However, virus strains with the same antigenicity are used as vaccine strains, which is more conducive to the immediate production of vaccines.
Can the influenza vaccine be administered by a designated brand? What is the applicable age for the vaccine?
What brands of flu vaccines are being purchased by the government this year? What is the applicable age? Can I specify a brand? Taiwan Centers for Disease Control explained that there are 4 brands of publicly funded vaccines provided this year. The vaccine distribution follows the principle of “first arrival, first distribution, first use”. The brands of vaccinations for the public will be arranged “randomly” according to the target. , cannot specify the brand. The applicable ages for each brand are as follows:
Sanofi: Vaxigrip Tetra quadrivalent influenza vaccine, dosage form 0.5mL, available for use for more than 6 months.
Guoguang Biotechnology: AdimFlu-S (QIS)“validated” split quadrivalent influenza vaccine, dosage form 0.5mL, available for use over 3 years old.
Toyo Pharmaceuticals: FLUCELVAX QUAD influenza vaccine, dosage form 0.5mL, available for use for more than 6 months.
High-end vaccine: MVC FLU Quadrivalent pre-filled syringe injection high-end quadrivalent influenza vaccine, dosage form 0.5mL, available for use over 3 years old.
This year, the four brands of vaccines purchased by the government do not contain thimerosal or adjuvants. However, the influenza vaccines provided by Sanofi, Guoguang Biotech and High-end Vaccines all contain trace amounts of formaldehyde or their residues; the influenza vaccines provided by Toyo Pharmaceuticals do not contain formaldehyde. A Taiwan Food and Drug Administration report pointed out that formaldehyde has been used to deactivate viruses and detoxify bacterial toxins, and has been used to produce human viral or bacterial vaccines for at least 50 years.
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control explained that during the manufacturing process of vaccines, formaldehyde is diluted, but its residual amounts can still be detected in the final product. The average dose of a single exposure to formaldehyde due to vaccination is extremely low and is therefore considered safe. This year, the four brands of vaccines purchased by the government comply with the inspection and registration requirements of Taiwan Food and Drug Administration and have been approved for use/import. The ingredients and detailed information of the four brands of vaccines can be found on the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration website.
Can publicly funded vaccines be taken together with the COVID-19 vaccine? If you encounter “4 conditions” after vaccination, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible!
Do I need 2 doses of the flu vaccine? Taiwan Centers for Disease Control explains that the vaccination dose for infants and young children over 6 months old is 0.5 mL (each brand has different applicable ages); if children under 9 years old are vaccinated for the first time, they should receive 2 doses with an interval of more than 4 weeks, each vaccination 0.5mL. If you have received seasonal influenza vaccine (either 1 dose or 2 doses) in the past, you only need 1 dose this year. Children over 9 years old only need to receive one dose regardless of past seasonal influenza vaccination history.
Can the influenza vaccine be given together with the latest “XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccine”? Taiwan Centers for Disease Control pointed out that the influenza vaccine is an “inactivated vaccine” and can be administered at different sites at the same time as other vaccines, or at any time interval. Current evidence shows that simultaneous vaccination of influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine does not affect the effectiveness or safety of the vaccine.
In order to improve vaccination efficiency and increase vaccination coverage, it was recommended by the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Advisory Committee Influenza Prevention and Control Group and the Vaccination Group Joint Meeting on February 25, 2022 that influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine can be vaccinated at the same time. You can choose to vaccinate at the same time or at intervals according to your needs. The vaccination sites of influenza vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine should be vaccinated at the same time. Considering the feasibility of clinical vaccination practice and referring to WHO guidelines, it is recommended to vaccinate in “different limbs”.
Do people who have completed the 2022 influenza vaccination before the end of August this year need to receive the new influenza vaccine in October of the same year? The CDC reminds that “vaccination is still required” and should be separated by more than 1 month from the previous dose. Since the protective effect of the influenza vaccine will gradually decrease after 6 months, and the virus strains in the influenza vaccine vary from year to year, in order to obtain sufficient protection during the new influenza epidemic period, it is recommended that you still need to receive the seasonal vaccine.
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control also emphasizes that although the influenza vaccine is a safe and effective vaccine, detailed evaluation by a physician is required before receiving any vaccine. After vaccination, reactions such as pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain, fever, nausea, and urticaria may occur, which usually subside within 1-2 days. If serious side effects such as allergic reactions, shock, difficulty breathing, or asthma occur, you should Seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
source:
Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Q&A - Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, Centers for Disease Control
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