Influenza is commonly found during winter. Coughing, cold, and difficulty to breathe are among the symptoms of the disease. Influenza is caused by the influenza virus, spread through the air and physical contact. Supplements and multivitamins are commonly used to treat the disease, although the influenza vaccine is a far more effective method to prevent the disease. Questions often arise, is vaccine really necessary to prevent influenza?

Vaccination is done to prevent a disease or prevent the body from contracting a disease. The influenza vaccine is usually given prior to winter to protect the body against the influenza virus when the cold weather comes. It takes around two weeks for the vaccine to produce antibody that can protect against the disease.

As with most vaccines, the influenza vaccine is made from weakened influenza viruses to boost antibody to fight the virus. There are two types of influenza vaccine: inactive vaccine and intranasal vaccine.

• Inactive vaccine is made from egg grown viruses, and usually mixed with antigen.
• Intranasal vaccine is made from live, but weakened viruses.

The vaccines are usually effective for six months, and repeated vaccination is needed every six months or one year. This is because the immune resulted from the vaccine will drop as time progresses and viruses will continue to change.

Vaccines are continuously reviewed as the viruses’ characteristics change. The influenza vaccine is not the only way to prevent influenza, but it is the most effective preventive method.

Text by Rezky Zakiri
Stock photos from Google Search Images

Source(s):

• WHO. 2012. Information Sheet Observed rate of vaccine reactions Influenza Vaccine. Global Vaccine Safety, immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals. Ch-1211.
• Flu Shot: Your Best Bet for Avoiding Influenza (2017). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/flu/in-depth/flu-shots/art-20048000?pg=2.
• Influenza (Flu) (2016). https://www.vaccines.gov/diseases/flu/index.html.
• WHO - Influenza: Vaccines. http://www.who.int/influenza/vaccines/en/.