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Flu Vaccination: Protection, Effects & Recommendations

The flu vaccination protects against seasonal influenza. It is recommended annually and is especially important for high-risk groups.

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Things worth knowing about "Flu Vaccination"

The flu vaccination protects against seasonal influenza. It is recommended annually and is especially important for high-risk groups.

What Is the Flu Vaccination?

The flu vaccination (also known as the influenza vaccine or flu shot) is a preventive immunization against the influenza virus, the pathogen responsible for seasonal flu. Because influenza viruses mutate each year, the vaccine is updated annually to match the currently circulating virus strains. The World Health Organization (WHO) monitors global virus variants and issues recommendations for the annual vaccine composition.

How Does the Flu Vaccination Work?

The vaccine contains inactivated or weakened components of influenza viruses. After vaccination, the immune system recognizes these components as foreign and produces antibodies. These antibodies protect the body when it encounters the actual virus during flu season. Vaccination either prevents illness entirely or significantly reduces the severity of the disease.

Types of Flu Vaccines

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV): Contains killed virus particles, administered by injection.
Recombinant Influenza Vaccine (RIV): Contains genetically engineered virus proteins, produced without chicken eggs.
Live-Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV): Contains weakened live viruses, administered as a nasal spray, approved for children and adolescents.
Adjuvanted Vaccine: Contains an immune-boosting agent (adjuvant), recommended for adults aged 60 and older to enhance the immune response.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

Health authorities such as the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) in Germany and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States recommend annual flu vaccination especially for:

Adults aged 60 and over
Pregnant women from the second trimester onward (from the first trimester in case of elevated health risk)
People with chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, or respiratory conditions
Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
Healthcare and nursing staff
People in close contact with high-risk individuals

When Is the Best Time to Get Vaccinated?

The ideal time to receive the flu vaccine is in autumn, typically between October and November, before the flu season peaks during the winter months. However, vaccination is still beneficial if received after the season has already begun.

Side Effects of the Flu Vaccination

The flu vaccine is generally well tolerated. Common side effects are mild and temporary:

Redness, swelling, or soreness at the injection site
Mild fever, fatigue, or headache
Muscle aches or general feeling of discomfort

Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are very rare. People with a known egg allergy should consult their doctor before vaccination, as some vaccine types are produced using chicken eggs.

Effectiveness of the Flu Vaccination

The protective effectiveness of the flu vaccine ranges from approximately 40 to 60 percent, depending on how well the vaccine matches the circulating virus strains. Even when protection is not complete, vaccination significantly reduces the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and flu-related death.

Contraindications

The flu vaccination should not be administered in the following cases:

Acute illness with fever (vaccination should be postponed)
Known severe allergy to a vaccine component
Previous severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Influenza (Seasonal) - Fact Sheet. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Flu Vaccine Safety Information. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinesafety.htm
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Seasonal influenza vaccination and antiviral use in Europe. Stockholm: ECDC; 2022.

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