MANILA, Philippines?Influenza or flu is a serious condition that is much worse than the common cold. It could render an individual extremely ill for up to 10 days, suffering from fever, shivering attacks, muscular pains, headaches, a dry cough, and possibly vomiting.
Worse, a flu may lead to pneumonia if not aggravate underlying medical conditions.
?Which is why we encourage those people at risk?those over 50 or under 5, people of any age who have asthma, heart disease, weakened immune systems or other chronic illnesses, and pregnant women?to vaccinate,? informed Dr. Ma. Ruby Mendoza-Dizon, medical director of sanofi pasteur (the vaccine business of sanofi-aventis Group), which is a major provider of various types of vaccines here in the Philippines.
In addition, the doctor advised that one should not only consider getting the flu shot? he or she should get it as soon as possible, as early as March.
Formidable foe
?Flu is a formidable foe and is not an illness that people should be complacent about. Getting the shot before the flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to, or protection from, the virus,? she explained.
The best way to avoid getting the flu is to get vaccinated between March and June, that is, before the flu season begins so that the body?s immune system would be able to prepare itself to fight off the virus.
Although flu occurs all year round here in the Philippines, the numbers of those afflicted peaks noticeably during the start of monsoon rains in June and July and then again at the beginning of the cold ?-ber? months that lasts until February.
The doctor reminded that some individuals who get the vaccine will still get the flu, although they will usually get a milder case than people who aren?t vaccinated.
Get the shot earlier
?Although you can get a flu shot well into flu season, it?s best to try to get it earlier rather than later,? Dizon advised.
The vaccine contains dead flu viruses that cannot cause infection. It works by exposing an individual?s immune system to these flu viruses in order to build up antibodies.
?The flu shot prepares and boosts one?s immune system against the virus. People who get the flu shot each year are better protected against the flu than those who do not get it,? she said.
Flu strains vary
And one has to do this annually because flu strains vary from year to year and immunity lasts only for 12 months.
?The flu virus keeps changing so the vaccine needs to change to keep up with the type of flu that is expected to prevail in the coming year. This is why each year?s flu vaccine needs to be designed in advance, based on which strains of virus are anticipated to be prevalent in the coming year,? Dizon explained.
An example is sanofi pasteurs? inactivated influenza vaccine trivalent Types A and B (split virion), which contains three virus strains that are likely to circulate in the Philippines in a particular season.
This vaccine works by introducing very small amounts of viral components (parts) into the body, which are not only enough to stimulate the production of antibodies (cells designed to attack that particular virus) but will also remain in the body ready to attack that same virus in the future.
Highly contagious
Dizon added that another reason one should get the flu shot early is that by the day the individual becomes sick or exhibits the symptoms, he or she is already excreting the virus, which is highly contagious.
?Individuals infected with the flu are contagious from a day before they feel sick until their symptoms have resolved. While flu usually occurs in small outbreaks, it has the potential to turn into epidemics, which has happened many times in the past,? Dizon reminded.
She suggested that one could reduce the spread by also eating health food, exercising and getting enough sleep, which play a part in preventing the flu because they help boost one?s immune system.
?If you are already sick, make sure that you cover your mouth when you cough and wash your hands often to prevent giving the flu to others,? she reminded.
