A must-read for flu season! The latest flu vaccination guide for 2022 is here

Recently, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention released the "Technical Guidelines for Immunization of Influenza Vaccines in China (2022-2023)", which made vaccination recommendations for the 2022-2023 influenza vaccine. NetEase Health's "Health Focus" has compiled the key information, let's take a look!

1. Why is it particularly necessary to get the flu vaccine this year?

Influenza is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza virus, which seriously endangers people's health. Influenza virus has variable antigenicity and spreads rapidly, causing seasonal epidemics every year. Outbreaks can occur in places where people gather, such as schools, childcare institutions and nursing homes. Seasonal influenza epidemics can cause 3 million to 5 million severe cases and 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory disease-related deaths worldwide each year. High-risk groups such as pregnant women, infants, the elderly and patients with chronic underlying diseases have a higher risk of severe illness and death after contracting influenza.

Especially this summer, some provinces in southern China have seen a peak in summer influenza epidemics. This winter and next spring, there may be a risk of overlapping epidemics of respiratory infectious diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza. Influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza, which can reduce the harm caused by influenza-related diseases and the occupation of medical resources.

2. How is this year’s flu vaccine different from previous years?

To match the ever-mutating influenza virus, the WHO-recommended trivalent influenza vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere in 2022-2023, produced based on chicken eggs, has replaced the strains of A (H3N2) subtype and B (Victoria strain) viruses compared to the previous year.

The influenza vaccines approved for marketing in my country include trivalent inactivated vaccine (IIV3), trivalent live attenuated vaccine (LAIV3) and quadrivalent inactivated vaccine (IIV4). Among them, the trivalent inactivated vaccine can be used for people aged ≥6 months; the trivalent live attenuated vaccine is a freeze-dried preparation for people aged 3-17 years; the quadrivalent inactivated vaccine includes two dosage forms, 0.25ml and 0.5ml, which can be used for people aged ≥6 months and ≥36 months respectively.

For people who can be vaccinated with different types of vaccines from different manufacturers, they can voluntarily receive any influenza vaccine, and there is no priority recommendation.

3. Which groups should be given priority for flu vaccination this year? Where can they get it?

In principle, all people aged 6 months and above who are willing to be vaccinated and have no contraindications can receive the influenza vaccine.

In view of the COVID-19 and influenza epidemic situation, in order to minimize the harm of influenza and the impact on the prevention and control of COVID-19, it is recommended to vaccinate key and high-risk groups in order of priority. The specific recommendations are as follows:

1. Medical personnel , including clinical treatment personnel, public health personnel, health quarantine personnel, etc.

2. Participants and support personnel of large-scale events , including participants in major events such as the National People’s Congress and local Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, and sporting events.

3. Vulnerable groups and employees in places where people gather, such as nursing homes, long-term care institutions, and welfare homes.

4. People in key places , such as teachers and students in childcare institutions, primary and secondary schools, and detainees and staff in prisons and detention centers.

5. Other people at high risk of influenza include home-based elderly people aged 60 years and above, children aged 6 months to 5 years, patients with chronic diseases, family members and caregivers of infants under 6 months old, and pregnant women or women who are planning to become pregnant during the influenza season.

Regarding the locations for influenza vaccination, local CDCs will publish a list of influenza vaccination units, and citizens in need can choose a vaccination site nearby for vaccination.

4. When is the best time to get the flu vaccine this year ?

Generally, protective antibodies can be produced 2-4 weeks after influenza vaccination. The peak time and duration of influenza activity in different parts of China each year are different. In order to ensure that the vaccine recipients are immune before the peak influenza season, it is recommended that vaccinations be arranged as soon as the vaccine is available. It is best to complete the vaccination before the local influenza epidemic season . Vaccination units can provide immunization services throughout the epidemic season. In the same influenza epidemic season, people who have completed the full vaccination according to the vaccination procedure do not need to be vaccinated again.

In addition, pregnant women can receive the influenza vaccine at any stage of pregnancy . It is recommended that they receive the vaccine as soon as this year's influenza vaccine becomes available.

For children aged 6 months to 8 years, 2 doses of inactivated influenza vaccine should be given for the first time, with an interval of ≥ 4 weeks. For children who have received 1 or more doses of influenza vaccine in 2021-2022 or before, 1 dose is recommended. For children who have received live attenuated influenza vaccine, only 1 dose is required, regardless of whether they have received influenza vaccine before. Children aged 9 years and above and adults only need 1 dose.

5. Can the influenza vaccine be administered at the same time as other types of vaccines?

1. COVID-19 vaccine

People aged 18 and above can receive inactivated influenza vaccine and new coronavirus vaccine on both limbs during one immunization service; for people under the age of 18, it is recommended that the interval between influenza vaccine and new coronavirus vaccine be greater than 14 days.

2. Non-COVID-19 vaccines

Inactivated influenza vaccine and other inactivated vaccines and live attenuated vaccines such as pneumococcal vaccine, shingles vaccine, varicella vaccine, measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus vaccine can be administered at different sites at the same time; however, after receiving live attenuated influenza vaccine, other live attenuated vaccines can only be administered after a 28-day interval. Elderly people over 65 years old can receive inactivated influenza vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine at the same time.

6. There are things you need to know about flu vaccines!

Finally, I would like to remind everyone that the protection rate of the flu vaccine is not 100%, so it is still possible to get the flu even if you have received the flu vaccine. During the flu season, high-risk groups should try to avoid crowded places and take precautions to protect their families and themselves!

(Source: China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)