The expert explained whether Ukrainians should be vaccinated against influenza during an epidemic

Every 10th adult and every 4th child gets the flu. In winter, the chances of catching the virus increase. Especially now, when the number of flu and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) in Ukraine is growing every day.

In Kiev alone, almost 11 thousand people fell ill in a week. And the main danger is in the complications that the virus can cause.

Is it possible to talk about a flu epidemic in Ukraine, what are the complications after the disease and what methods are terrible? treatment of influenza remain effective - the answers to the question of concern to many Ukrainians were looking for "Snidanok z 1+1".

Permanent expert "Snidanku z 1 + 1" - Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of Medicine, Head of the Department of Respiratory and Other viral infections of the Gromashevsky Institute of Epidemiology Alla Mironenko is sure that today Ukraine is in an epidemic period. In many regions, schools have already been closed for quarantine: in Volyn, Rivne, Zhitomir, Vinnytsia, Odessa, Cherkassk, Sumy, Lugansk, Donetsk and Zaporozhye regions.

As the expert explains, you can diagnose influenza and distinguish it from SARS by a number of symptoms:

• rapid onset of the disease
• heat
• muscle and bone pain
• weakness
• headache
• cough

The flu starts with lightning speed. And with respiratory infections that are not caused by the flu, there may first be a runny nose or a sore throat, and the temperature may rise later, or may not rise at all.

- the professor comments. The flu can cause severe complications, she said. Since influenza is a virus that primarily affects the respiratory tract, complications from the respiratory system can be expected - this is bronchitis, pneumonia, otitis media, sinusitis. It can also cause heart and kidney disease, meningitis and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Most often, complications arise in people who did not see a doctor on time, or have background diseases and belong to risk groups.

One way to keep yourself safe from the virus is to get vaccinated.

But many Ukrainians are interested in the question of whether it makes sense to get vaccinated now, when in fact the whole country is already in quarantine.

The World Health Organization believes that vaccinations can be given at any time. But you have to understand that it takes time for the vaccine to work. This is two weeks for an adult and a month for children. That is, now you may not be in time.

- the professor answers.

At the same time, Alla Mironenko explains that Ukrainians should not worry about the quality of vaccines, they have all been thoroughly tested.

Ukraine does not produce its own vaccines. All vaccines are foreign. We have a registration procedure, and before they register a vaccine, it undergoes a long and thorough examination. That is, low-quality vaccines are not allowed in Ukraine.

Also their concerns about vaccination on the air "Snidanka z 1 + 1" voiced by the audience present in the studio:

Our family doesn't get the flu shot. We were told that you are vaccinated against one virus, and it mutates quickly. And why put your immune system under such stress? Is it effective? - asked Oksana from Zaporozhye.

This is an outdated view. Because there is a powerful system for monitoring the circulation of viruses in the world. And twice a year, WHO makes recommendations on which strains should be included in vaccines to keep them up-to-date and not outdated. Vaccines change every year. There are isolated cases when there is no coincidence, but this actually rarely happens.