As happens annually, before the arrival of winter, influenza vaccination campaigns begin in our country. This year, the vaccination campaign - coordinated by the Ministry of Health, through the General Coordination of the National Immunization Program (CGPNI) - runs until June 9.

To get in on the flu battle in 2017, the Ministry of Health has acquired 60 million doses of the vaccine and the focus of the campaign is:

• Persons 60 years of age and over;
• Children from 6 months to under 5 years old;
• Pregnant women;
• Puerperas - that is, women who have just given birth (up to 45 days after delivery);
• Health workers;
• Indian people;
• Carriers of non-communicable chronic diseases;
• Patients with other special clinical conditions;
• Adolescents and young people from 12 to 21 years old under socio-educational measures;
• Deprived population of liberty;
• Prison staff;
• Elementary and higher school teachers from public and private schools.

According to the Ministry of Health, the campaign's target audience is 54.2 million, and the goal is to vaccinate - at least - 90% of this audience. But, do you know the reason for so much effort to vaccinate the population?

The flu

Influenza is a viral disease that occurs most often in the colder periods of the year, ie from autumn to early spring. Also known as influenza, it is easily transmitted from one individual to another through contact with people infected with the virus who, by coughing, sneezing, etc., eventually spread the virus through the environment.

Damaged virus!

And since we're talking about viruses, don't think that there is only one type of influenza virus. In fact, there are three: C, which causes milder respiratory infections and has no impact on public health, and A and B, which are related to the seasonal epidemics that occur around the world.

It is noteworthy that, of these last two, influenza viruses type A are responsible for major pandemics and are classified into subtypes depending on surface proteins, hemagglutinin (HA or H) and neuraminidase (NA or N).

Regarding influenza A subtypes, the ones currently circulating among humans are A (H1N1) and A (H3N2), but there are also some avian viruses that can infect us and cause very serious diseases - as is often the case. the case of A (H7N9), considered dangerous by the World Health Organization.

Take cover

Anyone can be infected with the flu virus, but some groups, such as the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with any chronic disease or special medical condition, are at greater risk of developing complications.

Some people are more vulnerable.

Vaccination is the most effective intervention in reducing the impact of influenza and that is why it is so important that people do not stop receiving the vaccine annually. And do you know why campaigns are annual?

The influenza virus gets damaged ... It changes and adapts often, so new vaccines need to be developed and distributed annually. The vaccine stimulates our immune system to produce antibodies that will help the body fight off any infection, and this process takes about two weeks from the time of vaccination.

Be sure to get vaccinated

It's important to remember that while some people develop mild flu-like symptoms after getting the vaccine, it doesn't cause the disease! These signs - such as low fever and redness in the area where it was applied, for example - usually disappear within two days, and the vast majority of people receiving the dose show no reaction. So be sure to get vaccinated!