Breastfeeding, is it possible to get a flu vaccine?

The article was consulted professionally by Master, Dr Doan Ngoc Quynh – PediatricIan – Pediatrics Center – Share99 Times City International Health Hub.

Breast milk not only nourishes babies in the first years of life, but also provides essential antibodies, helping to protect them against many dangerous diseases, especially respiratory diseases, including influenza. Accordingly, the breastfeeding mother is still the subject of influenza vaccination to prevent and avoid transmission of the virus as well as indirectly create passive immunity for the child.

1. What is seasonal flu?

Influenza is an infectious disease that causes mainly viruses, causing diseases on the respiratory tract. The disease is quite common in the community when a healthy adult can still get the flu several times a year. Common symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, fever, fatigue, poor appetite, and general aches and pains that only reside for 5 to 7 days despite no specific treatment. However, in many cases, influenza can cause serious complications or even death, especially dangerous for older adults (over 65 years old) and young children (under 5 years old).

Influenza viruses are highly contagious from person to person through small particles of secretion that fly into the air and on surfaces you touch. So to prevent the flu, try to avoid people who have coughs, sneezes, and wash their hands often in parallel with vaccination.

Influenza vaccines are injections or nasal sprays, which are highly effective in helping prevent the spread of influenza in the community. As pathogenic strains of influenza virus change antigen each year, influenza vaccines are also prepared to change from year to year to achieve the goal of comprehensive disease prevention. Therefore, each individual needs to actively vaccinate against influenza once a year; in it, pay special attention to the subjects of pregnant, lactation, elderly and young children.

Influenza A virus

Influenza is an infectious disease that causes mainly viruses, causing diseases on the respiratory tract

2. Can breastfeeding women get vaccinated against the flu?

Everyone is recommended to be vaccinated against influenza every year since the age of more than 6 months. This recommendation includes both breastfeeding women and pregnant women.

Influenza vaccines have always been considered a safe option in the issue of vaccination for pregnant and lactated women. If the baby is 6 months of age or older, the pediatrician may advise that the baby should also be vaccinated against influenza independently. On the contrary, babies under 6 months of age do not need to be vaccinated against influenza during this period, but if the mother has a flu vaccination during pregnancy or breastfeeding, the dose of the vaccine that stimulates the mother's body to produce antibodies will still help babies and young children. Because breast milk is full of antibodies that protect the baby as well as immuno-boosting properties, it is these protective properties that will be transmitted through breast milk to the baby to help the baby fight diseases, including seasonal flu.

Numerous observational studies have explained that young children, including newborns, who are not breast fed, increase their risk of influenza; at the same time, when sick, there is a very high risk of leading to dangerous complications, including death.

3. Should influenza be vaccinated when breastfeeding?

The decision on whether to get the flu vaccine during breastfeeding is up to the mother herself. Since influenza vaccination is safe, not only protects the mother, but also indirectly creates passive immunity for the child, it does not harm, so this is necessary. Therefore, women preparing to become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding should actively vaccinate against influenza every year. The vaccine will come into play after a "window" period of at least two weeks, helping to reduce the risk of influenza for both mother and child, the risk of severe complications. On the other hand, until now, antiviral drugs on the market used to treat when sick have not been guaranteed to be completely harmless to babies during breastfeeding.

However, this is not a mandatory vaccine and flu vaccination is also not meant to protect you from all strains of the flu virus.

Despite this, there is no denying the role of influenza vaccination in protecting you, your family and the surrounding community from the seasonal flu epidemic. At this time, if you have difficulty making a decision on whether to vaccinate against influenza during breastfeeding, when to do it … actively talk to your doctor.

4. Where is it safe to get a flu vaccine?

Share99 International Health Hub currently provides influenza vaccination services originating from France.

Vaccination services at Share99 Health Hub provide customers with the following benefits:

  • Children will be examined by pediatricians – Vaccines, fully screened for health and physical issues, advice on vaccines and vaccination regimens, how to monitor and care for children after vaccination before prescribing vaccinations according to the latest recommendations of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization to ensure the best and safest effect for children.
  • A team of experienced, professional pediatric doctors and nurses, understand the child's psychology and apply effective pain relief to the child during vaccination.
  • 100% of vaccinated children are monitored 30 minutes after vaccination and re-evaluated before leaving.
  • Be monitored generally before, during and after vaccination at Share99 Health System and always have emergency ekip ready to coordinate with the vaccination room to handle cases of anaphylalacticshock, respiratory failure – stop cyclic, ensure timely treatment, the right regimen when something happens.
  • The vaccination room is airy, has a play area, helping children feel comfortable and psychologically good before and after vaccination.
  • The vaccine is imported and stored in a modern cold storage system, with a Cold chain meeting GSP standards, keeping the vaccine in the best condition to ensure quality.
  • Parents will receive a reminder message before the date of vaccination and the child's vaccination information will be synchronized with the national immunization information system.

Share99 International Health Hub is offering a package vaccination program with a variety of vaccines for a variety of subjects, from infants, young children, adults, women before and during pregnancy.
Particularly in December 2019, Share99 is free of charge for newborn Hepatitis B vaccination (immediately after birth) for babies when registering for the Package for children from 0-1 year old or from 0-2 years old.

For direct advice, please click hotline number or register online HERE. In addition, you can register for remote consultation HERE

Reference source: yteduphong.com; vnvc.vn

SEE MORE:

  • Notes in the treatment of flu
  • Colds, flu: When to go to the doctor?
  • What's good about having a cold?

About: John Smith

b1ffdb54307529964874ff53a5c5de33?s=90&r=gI am the author of Share99.net. I had been working in Vinmec International General Hospital for over 10 years. I dedicate my passion on every post in this site.

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