Today we have heard the news: vaccination in Spain against Influenza A will begin on November 16, as reported by the Ministry of Health. The beginning of immunization will be adopted jointly in all communities and will be applied to those considered risk groups. As we know, pregnant women are within that risk group, although the flu vaccine for them will have a particularity.
The vaccine received by pregnant women who want it will be without adjuvant, the enhancer element that allows the patient to be immunized with less dose, since it is safer. The Minister of Health has recommended in a statement to the Cadena Ser that "pregnant women also get vaccinated."
Given the few clinical trials conducted with this risk group, he recalled that the European Medicines Agency has authorized its application. "We have acquired a vaccine that has no adjuvant, inactive virus" said Jiménez, who has considered this decision as a "safety plus" for pregnant women, because there are more clinical trials with this vaccine.
What I wonder is, if there is a safety plus, why doesn't that vaccine be given in all risk groups? The answer would be that it could be less effective. That is, generalized vaccines will be more potent, but since they have not been tested in pregnant women, it is better to put a more "loose" version of the vaccine, but it is tested during pregnancy and its safety has been proven.
Another news announced today is that from November 1 the antivirals (Tamiflú and Relenza) will return to the pharmacies, after last May they moved to the hospitals to avoid undue collection of them. Of course, they can only be purchased with a prescription.
Other risk groups that will receive the vaccine are health personnel, essential services, Security Forces, firefighters, prison officers and chronically ill people from 6 months of age.
The coordinator of the Infection Group of the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians, José Luis Cañada, has recommended vaccination today to all people who can get it because in his words "it is the best way to prevent". Recall, however, that vaccination is voluntaryIn fact, there are many personnel included in these groups who are not willing to get vaccinated.
I imagine that many of our readers will also have their doubts, not in vain we saw that 39% have decided not to apply the vaccine against influenza A, while 33%, it is clear that they would not be immunized at least until they see how the disease evolves and the possible risks that the vaccine could have on them and their babies. For now, we already know that precautions are being taken with a different flu vaccine for pregnant women.
