Chkhaidze: Flu Vaccination Essential for Risk Groups

Ivane Chkhaidze, medical director of the Iashvili Central Children's Hospital and professor, says that around 15 respiratory viruses are currently circulating in Georgia. According to him, the most severe course, the most complications and deaths are caused by the influenza virus. Therefore, in Chkhaidze's assessment, vaccination of risk groups is categorically necessary.

Chkhaidze explains that virus activity changes over the year and is highest in autumn and winter. He names pneumonia, damage to the central nervous system and damage to the heart muscle as complications caused by influenza. According to him, all of them may be life-threatening.

The flu vaccine can be taken by anyone from the age of 6 months, although vaccination is not universal. The WHO identifies risk groups where the probability of complications caused by influenza is highest. The high-risk group includes young children, especially under 5 years old, the elderly, pregnant women and people with immunodeficiency. People with chronic diseases are also in the risk group, for example those with chronic pathologies of the cardiovascular system and lungs, diabetes and other serious comorbidities. According to Chkhaidze, vaccination is the only way for them to prevent infection and severe complications.

People should refrain from getting the vaccine on the day they have a high temperature or signs of an acute illness, for example a sore throat, rash or intestinal disorders. In such cases, the vaccination should be postponed until recovery.

Speaking to Interpressnews about alcohol, Chkhaidze says that abstaining from it is recommended for the first two days after vaccination. According to him, this is not related to the risk of serious complications and is simply "desirable for the body to observe this minor restriction". There is no other specific contraindication between alcohol and the flu vaccine.

According to Chkhaidze, the vaccine must be taken every year, because it works for no more than 6 months and is linked to the flu season. The flu season in Georgia lasts 6-8 months. The ideal period for vaccination is the second half of October and the first half of November, and the vaccine reaches its maximum effect 2 weeks after administration.

This year, a three-component flu vaccine will be available in the country. Last year the vaccine had four components: two matched to "A" type viruses and two to "B" type viruses. Chkhaidze explains that the "B" type virus that was included in the vaccine composition had not caused disease recently.

Vaccination can be carried out across the country at all authorized medical institutions that provide immunization services.