Flu Vaccination- Benefits and Contra-indications - Research Paper Example

Flu Vaccination- Benefits and Contra-indications Flu vaccine Vaccines are biologically prepared immunity solutions thatenable a person’s body to resist the attack of certain diseases. The vaccines basically stimulate the immune system of the body when it comes in contact with the disease bacteria, and initiates the production of antibodies to fight it. Anti-bodies are a part of a human body’s defense mechanism that fights organisms carrying the disease(Boyden, 1966). Vaccination is the process of a person taking vaccines against certain diseases. Once vaccinated, the person is said to have active immunity until the duration of the effectiveness of the vaccine. Active immunity allows the immune system to recognize infected bacteria or viruses as soon as the body comes in contact with them and triggers the production of anti-bodies to tackle them. Vaccination against diseases resists the spread of harmful illnesses in a society, contributing towards a healthy environment. Influenza, more commonly known as Flu, is a respiratory illness that is contagious and is characterized by symptoms like fever, body ache, coughing, sneezing and cold. It can become an epidemic because of its viral nature and once initiated, it is imperative to contain the spread of this disease through proper medication and vaccination. Flu vaccination is generally an annual vaccination program that encourages individuals to ensure protection from the attack of influenza through the year. Since influenza is of several types, it ensures protection against the most major kinds of this disease. It generally offers protection from two strains of type influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and one strain of type influenza B(Gross &Hermogenes et al., 1995). This vaccine can be administered through vaccine injections called flu shots, or through inhalation. Flu vaccination is not mandatory but encouraged in many countries by their respective health ministries. It is more commonly given to young children, pregnant women, elderly, or individuals with health conditions that make them susceptive to such diseases. The reason for this is that in these people, the immunity system is fairly weak and this disease can cause severe complications. Benefits of getting the FLU vaccine Flu vaccine is beneficial to every individual on several grounds. On a larger scale it also ensures a healthy environment that resists the spread of such diseases. Evidently, it protects one from the attack of this disease or decreases the extent of its impact on a body. More common during the change of weather and through winters, it enables people to be protected from this unpleasant state of viral illness. Apart from this, it has other medical, social and economic benefits as well(Pol, 2009). Medically, it contains the spread of flu as a viral disease and protects one from its attack. Young children, old people and pregnant women can escape serious complications that may arise in their condition upon contracting such a disease. Since it can affect different people variably, young adults can reduce their chances of contracting influenza and even if they do, they can count on the less severity of its symptoms. Needless to say, it weakens a body through its course and recovery takes upto 3 weeks which is a prolonged state of illness in the normal course of life. Socially, it ensures that this disease is not spread and become an epidemic. It also encourages a healthy society that is free from such viral diseases and health results in productivity. It hampers the loss of workdays and frequent visits to the physicians for individuals, making them a positive component of the society. It reduces the strain of the disease and results in lesser deaths in weak patients contacting it. People who are already suffering from health condition like asthma and diabetes, and chronic lung disease and those who are responsible for the health of others, like healthcare personnel can greatly benefit from this vaccine too. Economically, many countries offer the flu vaccine to elderly and babies free of cost or at a minimal price. This is an encouraging factor for them and the government ensures that the spread of this disease does not take a severe turn. It is also available to general public to whoever wants to get himself vaccinated against this disease at an economical price. In a macro-economic environment, it leads to positive health indicators for a country which are ideal for the economic growth and sustainability of a country. Thus, it is evident that the flu vaccine is beneficial on many levels and protects the people from its long lasting effects. Contra-indications of getting the FLU vaccine Contra-indications are situations under which these vaccines are not advisable. As far as the flu vaccine is concerned it is not life threatening to most people. However, it is explicitly not advised in case a person has had an allergic reaction(e.g., anaphylaxis) to the vaccine or one of its ingredients, including egg protein, previously. This is because, upon re-administering a vaccine to such people, the resulting effect can be harmful in terms of life-long impairment or even death(Nhs.uk, 2014). Health Advisory Committees determine every year the implications it can have on certain kinds of health conditions like asthma, diabetes etc. Contra-indications are clearly communicated before-hand to ensure that the vaccine does not lead to any negative situations. Before administering the vaccine, health personnel are advised to screen the individual for any allergies and health conditions that he may have contacted over the course of one year, from the previous annual dosage. These are the general contraindication for the basic flu vaccine;however, specialized flu vaccines call for further precautions. For example, Live, Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV) cannot be administered to children aged less than 2 years or adults aged more than 50 years, pregnant women, and individuals with immunodeficiency diseases etc. this is because the vaccine is fairly new and its impact on such individuals is not known yet(Harper & Fukuda et al., 2004). Thus, with newer vaccines the contra-indications are more comprehensive due to difference in their composition of the vaccine every time. In conclusion, flu vaccination is a positive act of protection from the contraction and spread of influenza. Most people do not take it seriously due to factors like administration fee, time constraints, and uncertainty of its effectiveness. With proper communication of its benefits and implications, health ministries can ensure that more people get themselves vaccinated so that this does not take the form of an epidemic and affect the community on any level. References: Pol (2009).Valuing influenza vaccine: medical, economic, and social benefits.Clinical infectious diseases, 48 (3), pp. 299--301. Nhs.uk. (2014).Benefits and risks of vaccination - vaccinations - nhs choices. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/vaccinations/Pages/benefits-and-risks.aspx [Accessed: 16 Jan 2014]. Boyden, S. V. (1966). Natural antibodies and the immune response.Adv. immunol, 5 (1). Gross, P. A., Hermogenes, A. W., Sacks, H. S., Lau, J., Lev, Owski, R. & A (1995). The efficacy of influenza vaccine in elderly personsa meta-analysis and review of the literature.Annals of internal medicine, 123 (7), pp. 518--527. Harper, S. A., Fukuda, K., Uyeki, T. M., Cox, N. J. & Bridges, C. B. (2004). Prevention and control of influenza.Mmwr, 53 pp. 1--40. Read More