Flu vaccines: which is better – shot or spray?

Every year the health organizations remind us anew how important it is to get vaccinated against the flu. Vaccination can reduce the chance of getting sick, and above all – our chance of suffering from severe and prolonged disease symptoms.As we know, you can usually get the vaccine by spray or by injection – but what is the difference between them? We addressed this question to Dr. Uri Lerner, the professional director of the “Madat” association, who explained: “The virus in the injection is actually a killed virus. Simply put: it is killed under the condition Laboratory, it is injected into the body and thus the immune system learns to recognize it. On the other hand, the spray contains a weakened virus, which means that the virus cannot cause an active disease will be able to reproduce in the human body, but only at a lower temperature. Since the temperature in the nasal cavity is lower than in the rest of the body, it can reproduce there – but only there.”

 

Who is each of the vaccines suitable for?

 

“A weakened spray vaccine is given from the age of two to 49, and the killed vaccine by injection is suitable for the entire population from six months of age and older. It is important to note that you can use a unique vaccine that is suitable for those aged 65 and older. Its uniqueness is due to the fact that it contains a relatively high dose of the virus proteins, so it is very suitable for the population The adult, who is considered more at risk, I recommend to those who meet the age criterion, find out if it exists and ask to receive it.”

Do both types of vaccines involve side effects?

“In both cases there may be side effects, but usually these are only mild effects. Usually, a spray vaccine can cause symptoms similar to a mild cold, sore throat, cough and a general feeling of a mild cold. In contrast, a killed vaccine will often include symptoms of redness, pain or swelling In the place of the injection, mild symptoms of fever may also appear, which will last for about two to three days after receiving it.”

Which vaccine is more effective of the two?

“It is true that these are vaccines that contain the same strains of influenza, but since the mechanism that acts on the immune system is different in each of them, it is not yet known which of them will be more effective in the end and only at the end of winter will it be possible to draw conclusions about the matter.”

Who can’t get a spray vaccine?

“The spray vaccine is not suitable for part of the population. For example, it is not relevant for those who suffer from severe immunosuppression, for those in whose family there is someone who suffers from severe immunosuppression, for those who suffer from severe asthma and for pregnant women (due to changes in the immune system that are expected during this period). In any case, if there is any doubt It is important to consult the family doctor before getting vaccinated.”

What do you do if at the moment there is only a spray vaccine in the cash register – is it worth waiting until it is available as an injection?

“With the exception of specific cases, some of which have been noted, there is no reason to insist on vaccination by injection. It should be remembered that a considerable part of the known childhood vaccines (such as polio, measles, mumps and smallpox, for example) are given as a weakened virus. Beyond that, as mentioned, both types of vaccines may cause minor side effects.

The trick was to ease the pain of the shot

If you are a parent of small children, you must have been exposed to one of the known problems associated with vaccination. True – to convince the children to reach out and overcome the fear of the threatening needle. Well, as promised we have a trick that will help ease the stressful moment and greatly reduce the pain. You are welcome to try it with the children, and we promise not to tell anyone if you want to try it yourself. Dr. Amir Mendelson, a pediatrician in the general district of Sharon Shumron and a doctor in the pediatric emergency department at the Meir Medical Center, suggests that you equip yourself with “EMLA” ointment. According to him, all you need to do is apply the ointment on the skin area through which the needle is supposed to penetrate, seal with plastic wrap for 40 About minutes and that’s it. You can inject.

Dr. Gil Chapnik, a pediatrician at Maccabi and a member of Medat, suggests trying to use other distractions such as balloons or soap bubbles. When it comes to babies, he suggests using breastfeeding or sugar water.