Answer:
You can receive the flu vaccine and do not need to stop your daily medication for chronic conditions. Individuals with diabetes and high blood pressure should continue to take their prescribed medication before and after vaccination.
Before vaccination, a doctor will conduct a screening examination and inquire about any existing conditions and current medications. If the chronic condition is stable, the patient can be vaccinated. However, if a patient has a high fever, is experiencing an asthma attack, or has uncontrolled high blood pressure, vaccination may be temporarily postponed until their condition stabilizes.
Individuals taking medication for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, or asthma control should not arbitrarily skip doses for vaccination. Suddenly stopping medication can lead to uncontrolled blood pressure or blood sugar levels.
For individuals on anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, the flu vaccine can still be administered. Patients must clearly inform healthcare staff about the medications they are taking so that appropriate injection techniques and monitoring can be chosen.
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Elderly individuals receiving flu vaccination at VNVC. Photo: Binh An. |
After vaccination, continue to monitor your health for the next 24-48 hours. Common reactions include mild swelling and pain at the injection site or temporary fatigue. These are natural physiological responses, indicating that the immune system is receiving stimulation to produce antibodies, and they typically resolve on their own after one or two days without affecting the progression of chronic conditions.
Seasonal flu is an acute respiratory infection caused by circulating influenza virus strains (A/H1N1; A/H3N2; B). The disease is transmitted through the respiratory tract, primarily via respiratory droplets or contact with contaminated surfaces.
During transitional seasons, the number of flu cases and hospitalizations is increasing. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), on 14/10, the city recorded 34,664 cases of acute respiratory inflammation, an increase of over 64% compared to the average of the previous four weeks. Among the 151 flu virus-positive test samples from hospitals, 116 belonged to the A/H1N1 strain, accounting for nearly 77%.
Currently, vaccines help prevent common influenza A and B strains, including A/H1N1, and are administered to children from 6 months of age and adults. Everyone needs an annual flu vaccine booster shot to reinforce antibodies, which decline after 6-12 months, and to protect against the influenza virus strains recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Doctor Le Thi Gam
Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System
Readers can ask vaccine-related questions here.
