H3N2 Cases Spike: Can a Flu Shot Really Prevent the Viral Infection?

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as cases of H3N2 viral influenza are surging across Delhi-NCR, experts are urging the residents to go for the annual flu shots. According to news reports, there has been a tremendous surge in cases of infections across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, where people are reporting fevers, coughs, and respiratory issues in large numbers. A report from the LocalCircles survey found that more than 69 per cent of households currently have one or more individuals experiencing symptoms of flu. Doctors say the flu vaccine is especially effective for those with compromised immunity and comorbidities, such as the elderly and children.

How does the flu vaccine work?

The vaccine includes flu shots that are made with inactivated influenza viruses. Doctors say everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine every season, with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for those who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza.

Who should take the vaccine?

There are standard-dose inactivated flu vaccines that are approved for people as young as six months of age. Experts say a few vaccines are only approved for adults, like the recombinant flu vaccine, which can only be given to those who are 18 years and older, and the adjuvanted and high-dose inactivated vaccines are approved for people 65 years and older. In the US, for toddlers above the age of two, the nasal spray flu vaccine is also an option. However, it is not recommended for those with some medical conditions or pregnant women.

When should you get vaccinated?

According to doctors, for most people who need only a dose of the influenza vaccine, September and October are generally good times to get the shots. However, additional considerations concerning the timing of vaccination for certain groups of people include:

• Adults above the age of 65 and pregnant women in the first or second trimester should generally not get vaccinated early in June, as the protection tends to decrease over time.
• Some children need two doses of the influenza vaccine. For those children, it is recommended that the first dose be given as soon as the vaccine is available because the second dose needs to be given at least four weeks after the first dose.

How can you avoid the risk of getting H3N2 without a vaccine?

While a vaccine may be your best defence against the flu, you can take other steps to help protect yourself from the infection by following these standard precautions:

Wash your hands

Make sure to wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If there is no soap around, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60 per cent alcohol.

Do not touch your face

Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose, and mouth to keep germs away from those places.

Always cover your coughs and sneezes

Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Then wash your hands.

Clean surfaces

Regularly clean often-touched surfaces to prevent the spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face.

Avoid crowded places

Doctors say the flu usually spreads easily wherever people gather – in schools, colleges, offices, auditoriums, and on public transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you lower your chances of infection.