Prevention is the best cure for any disease. And for a person who does not want to spend the winter months in bed with a thermometer under his arm, there will be relevant information on where to get a flu shot, who can get vaccinated, and what types of vaccinations there are.
What is the flu?
Influenza is a viral illness that causes fever and inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. There are three types of influenza: A, B and C. The first two are considered the most dangerous. They constantly mutate, so people cannot develop permanent immunity to them.
Finally, flu A and B are very contagious, transmitted by airborne droplets, so just being close to a flu carrier is enough to experience unpleasant symptoms of the disease after a while.
Therefore, vaccination is one of the most valuable achievements of modern medicine. Every year, public he alth creates ways for the population to quickly and easily get vaccinated to protect themselves.thus from the dangerous complications of the virus. So, mobile stations appear that transport medical workers around the city so that any person who is not indifferent to their he alth can be vaccinated without setting aside a separate day for going to the clinic. But before you find out where the metro can get a flu shot, there is a reason to find out what vaccines are and what types of vaccines there are.
Types of vaccines
Vaccination is a way to "teach" the immune system to respond to a particular antigen. But the judgment that a real virus is introduced during vaccination is incorrect. The modern vaccine is as safe as possible, and its composition depends on the type.
- Live are attenuated topical vaccines that are sprayed or instilled into the nose. The method of prevention is used for both children and adults.
- Inactivated whole virion vaccines - purified influenza virus, the activity of which is stopped using formalin or ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, such a virus is not dangerous to the body, but the immune system can recognize the antigen in the serum and develop antibodies against it.
- Split vaccines ("Grippol" or "Grippol plus") - vaccines consisting of a purified surface of the virus molecule (subunit), sometimes with the addition of protein.
- Virosomal - the latest vaccines, the manufacturing technology of which does not require conservation. Composition: inactive antigens from the surface of the virus.
Which vaccine to choose?
Determine how andwhere to get a flu shot, should the attending physician. The doctor must make sure that the patient feels well at the time of the vaccine, he should not have an exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Pre-vaccination history taking is an important aspect that should not be ignored. For example, people with HIV infection, immunosuppression from hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or missing spleen can only be vaccinated with inactivated sera.
Free vaccinations
Before you look for where to get a free flu shot, you should find out who is in the category of citizens who have the opportunity to receive vaccination free of charge at any public medical institution annually:
- preschool children;
- pupils;
- university and college students;
- he alth workers;
- educational workers;
- employees of transport companies, utilities, etc.;
- people over 60.
Everyone who falls into any of these categories can come to the clinic in their place of residence and receive a referral for vaccination.
Who shouldn't get the flu shot?
Contraindications for the flu vaccine are:
- allergy;
- autoimmune diseases;
- oncological tumors;
- serious diseases of the nervous system;
- adrenal disease;
- any pathology in the acute stage.
It is not uncommon for people with chronic diseases of any body systems to state that a vaccine can be dangerous for them. But scientific studies have not found any difference in the response to anti-influenza serum for he althy people and patients with chronic diseases. On the contrary, doctors strongly recommend that people with chronic diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular, urinary, endocrine systems of the body resort to annual vaccination.
The consequences of vaccination
After vaccination, a person may feel the following symptoms: malaise, a slight increase in body temperature (up to 37.5 degrees), pain in the injection area. Alarming symptoms are: cough, diarrhea and runny nose. If these signs are found within 24-48 hours after vaccination, you should consult a doctor.
Where are vaccinations given?
Knowing what flu vaccination is, what sera for vaccination are and who is shown this type of prevention, it remains to find out the main thing: where can I get a flu shot?
The easiest way to get vaccinated is to go to the clinic at the place of residence to the local general practitioner and get a referral for vaccination from him. Difficulties arise only when a busy work schedule does not allow you to visit the clinic.
Through the efforts of he alth committee workers in Russia, many people get the opportunity not to rack their brains over the question of where to get the flu shot, but to get vaccinated directly atyour workplace. Children and students also have the opportunity to get vaccinated at the he alth center of their educational institution.
Vaccinations near the subway
It is extremely difficult for a working person to find time to visit a treatment room and get a vaccine. For such people, it is possible to vaccinate in any public place, for example, in a shopping center or near the subway. Mobile points for vaccination have existed for several years. Anyone can take the opportunity to deliver a vaccine by providing medical professionals with just two documents: a passport and a policy.
Those who are interested in where to get a flu shot in St. Petersburg can call the He alth Committee and find out where and when you can find mobile first-aid posts on the streets of the city. Tentatively, they will appear until November 1 near the largest metro stations in St. Petersburg. But it is likely that the promotion will last longer: in 2016, it lasted until mid-December.
Vaccination in Moscow
Residents of the capital, considering where to get a flu shot in Moscow, can do it according to the schedule near the metro stations: Rechnoy Vokzal, Tsaritsyno, Domodedovskaya, Petrovsko-Razumovskaya, Tulskaya ", "Youth", "Baumanskaya", "VDNH", "Teply Stan", "Rokossovsky Boulevard", "Vladykino", "Tushinskaya", "Perovo", "Paveletskaya", "Belarusian", "Prazhskaya",Savelovskaya, Altufyevo, Semyonovskaya, Kyiv, Novokosino, Novogireyevo, Gagarin Square, Lyublino, Planernaya, Yasenevo.
Portable medical stations will wait for patients for vaccination until October 29, every day from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays, until 6 pm on Saturday and until 4 pm on Sunday. You must have a passport, a statement of desire to receive a vaccine, as well as a medical policy with you.
Vaccination for children
At mobile vaccination stations, anyone over the age of 18 can receive the vaccine. Therefore, the answer to the question of where to get a flu shot for a child will be two options:
- preschool or school vaccination;
- vaccination at the children's clinic.
What should a parent do to prepare their child for the procedure? First of all, make sure that he feels well, does not have a cold, does not show any complaints. After that, you need to visit a pediatrician who will give a referral for vaccination. In addition, you can get vaccinated on a reimbursable basis at any medical center. But you need to take a special certificate from the medical center, which can be presented at school for collective vaccination.
Parents of a small child need to psychologically prepare him for the injection, reduce anxiety and distract him from discomfort afterinjection. Stress can make you feel worse after vaccination, so it's important to help your baby get through the procedure as easily as possible.
Thus, the answer to the question of where to get a flu shot depends on the place of residence, degree of employment and age of the person. However, the need for vaccination is proven. Influenza is a dangerous disease that is fraught with many complications that can lead to partial or complete loss of he alth. Therefore, the vaccine can be called a major, valuable contribution to your he alth, performance and well-being.
