infants and children are an often-overlooked group when it comes to getting a flu vaccine
flu has the potential to be a severe respiratory infection in young children
3 minute read
children less than five years of age are at an increased risk of influenza complications — a group for whom influenza vaccination is particularly recommended. getty
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flucelvax® quad
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
every year, there’s a period of time in which influenza spreads throughout our communities. yet, many canadians are still unaware that the flu can lead to severe illness, hospitalization, and even death. dr. rupesh chawla, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with the university of saskatchewan, is speaking up to shed some much-needed light on this important issue.
“while most people who get the flu recover in three to seven days, influenza has always had the potential to be a severe respiratory infection,” says dr. chawla, “and there are certain high-risk groups who are more likely to experience flu-related complications or become hospitalized.” last year alone, there were close to 72,000 cases of influenza in canada, leading to 6,000 hospitalizations.
the importance of getting a seasonal flu vaccine is fairly well recognized among older adults. however, infants and children are an often-overlooked group.
children less than five years of age are also at an increased risk of influenza complications — a group for whom influenza vaccination is particularly recommended.
there were 1,792 hospitalizations and 10 deaths of children in canada as a result of flu-related complications between august 2022 and august 2023.
speak to your healthcare provider about how you can help prevent an influenza infection in yourself and your family. getty
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though they can never provide 100 per cent guaranteed protection, getting vaccinated against influenza is a proven way to help reduce your risk of getting the flu. it’s for this reason that the national advisory committee on immunization recommends, on an individual basis, that a flu vaccine be offered annually to anyone over the age of six months who doesn’t have any known contraindications to the influenza vaccine, with focus on the groups for whom influenza vaccination is particularly recommended.
another group who may benefit from influenza vaccination, but are often overlooked, are pregnant, or soon to become pregnant, people.
the further along a woman is in her pregnancy, the more likely she is to be hospitalized due to influenza.
the society of obstetricians and gynaecologists of canada have concluded that all pregnant women — irrespective of their stage of pregnancy — should be offered vaccination to help protect them against influenza infection. this recommendation also extends to women who might become pregnant in an upcoming influenza season, such as the current fall/winter season.
the society of obstetricians and gynaecologists of canada recommends that all pregnant women should be offered vaccination to help protect against influenza infection. getty
now that you’re clearer on who might seek out influenza vaccination, you may be wondering what types of flu vaccines are out there.
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there are a variety of effective flu vaccines available in canada. one of the ways in which they vary is in how they’re manufactured. “some vaccines are made by using chicken eggs to incubate or nurture them, and then further processed until they are ready for human use,” explains dr. chawla. “whereas, cell-based influenza vaccines use mammalian cells, instead of eggs.”
historically, most influenza vaccines have been produced using egg-based technology.
flucelvax® quad is the only mammalian cell-based influenza vaccine authorized in canada. it helps prevent influenza in adults and children as young as six months of age. side effects can include pain at the injection site, headache, and fatigue.
for more information, please refer to the product monograph at www.cslseqirus.ca.
influenza vaccines may be available for free in your province. ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details. if you’re a resident of quebec, the provincial government has implemented a universal influenza program, which offers free vaccination to everyone.
speak to your healthcare provider about how you can help protect yourself and your family from the flu.
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of flucelvax® quad.
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