Please note that this blog post is only educational. Kindly contact your physician or private healthcare professional for advice on re vaccination.
Respiratory infectious diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide. In 2017, the EU's standardised death rate for diseases of the respiratory system was ,79.7 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants[10] The great majority of deaths from respiratory infections are caused by lower respiratory infections -- predominantly pneumonia. When they occur, upper respiratory infection and otitis media deaths are included in this category as well[14]. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory tract infections, lung cancer, and tuberculosis have resulted in millions of deaths worldwide[11][14]
Above video: Understanding Respiratory Viruses - YouTube
The vast majority of communicable diseases that can be prevented by vaccination are passed directly from one human to another. Vaccination is a powerful tool in the fight against the further spread of infectious respiratory illnesses. Vaccination reduces the likelihood that a vaccine-preventable disease will spread and benefits public health. All vaccinations are protected and produced by strict measures.
Vaccinations are important for everyone, especially for patients who suffer from respiratory conditions. Here are some reasons why:
Above Video : Vaccines Prevent Respiratory Diseases - YouTube
Vaccines like that of covid-19 must pass rigorous clinical studies to fulfil worldwide safety and efficacy standards before being validated by WHO and national regulatory agencies.[8]
- Prevention of infectious respiratory diseases: Most vaccine-preventable diseases are spread from person to person, which means that if one person in a community gets an infectious disease, they can spread it to others.[4]Vaccines stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies that help the body recognize and fight an invasion of a particular germ, thus developing immunity to that disease without having to get the disease first[1].
- Protection against serious illness and complications: People with lung disease such as asthma or COPD may be at higher risk for serious illness from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccination provides protection not only against the disease itself but also against the dangerous complications or consequences that it can bring[1][2].
- Reduction of respiratory infections and exacerbations: Vaccines are effective preventive measures to reduce respiratory infections and exacerbations in COPD patients[3][5].
- Prevention of spreading preventable diseases: By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself and also avoid spreading preventable diseases to other people in your community. Some people cannot get certain vaccines because they are too young or too old or they have a weakened immune system or other serious health condition. Those people are less likely to catch a preventable disease when you and others around them are vaccinated against it[2].
- Requirement for everyday activities: Certain vaccines are required for school, work, travel, and more. Students, military personnel, and residents of rehabilitation or care centres must be vaccinated against diseases that circulate in close quarters. Health care workers and others whose job puts them at risk of catching and spreading preventable diseases need to be vaccinated against them for safety. Vaccination is also required before travel to many places around the world[2].
-When should I take my vaccine?
According to the CDC guidelines, September and October are the ideal months to receive the flu vaccine[7]. The CDC also recommends getting vaccinated before the virus is spreading in your community[6][7]. . In general, it is recommended to get vaccinated as soon as possible, depending on the timing of your last vaccine or any prior infection[7]. It is important to talk to your physician to determine the best course of action for your specific situation[7]. In 2018 it was reported that the influenza season start in late November and peaked mid January thus ,earlier vaccination may help to prevent exacerbated effects.[9] Covid-19 Vaccination WHO's Strategic Advisory Group on Immunisation (SAGE) modified COVID-19 vaccine guidelines in March 2023 due to the circulating Omicron variant and high population immunity.[8]
The amended recommendations list high, medium, and low COVID-19 immunisation priorities. We summarise the suggestions below. This document has more info: WHO SAGE Roadmap for COVID-19 vaccine prioritisation (March 2023).[9]
Top priority group Includes: Older people; Young adults with extreme obesity or comorbidities like diabetes and heart disease; Transplant recipients, immunosuppressed patients, and cancer patients, including children aged 6 months and older; Medical frontline personnel.[8]WHO advises this group to receive the primary series, first booster, and repeated booster doses 6 or 12 months after the last dose, depending on age and immunocompromising diseases.
Medium-priority group Includes: Healthy younger adults—unmorbid adults under 50–60 (age criteria vary by country);Childhood obesity and comorbidities increase the risk of severe COVID-19 infection. WHO recommends primary series and initial booster dose for this population.[8]
Lower priority group Includes:6–17-year-old healthy kids and teens. Vaccinating this group has no public health impact. Based on disease load, cost-effectiveness, health or programme goals, and opportunity costs, countries could vaccinate healthy children and adolescents with the primary series.[8]
Vaccination: Specific recommendations
WHO-recommended ; vaccinations like that of covid-19 are safe for those aged 6 months and older, including those with pre-existing illnesses and auto-immune disorders. These include hypertension, diabetes, asthma, lung, liver, and renal illness, and stable, controlled chronic infections [8].
Some vaccines are not approved for children. Please verify product-specific age recommendations.[8] . Early vaccination is crucial. Mixing COVID-19 vaccinations is safe and effective.[8]
Vaccination protects you and your family if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. Many pregnant and breastfeeding women worldwide have been vaccinated against respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 without safety issues.[8]One booster dose during pregnancy, if more than six months have passed since the last dose, protects the pregnant mother and foetus and reduces hospitalisations in neonates.
Do not get vaccinated if:
-Inform physician if you have had serious adverse reactions/anaphylaxis to any vaccine components.
-You have a temperature exceeding 38.5ºC on your immunisation appointment day. Wait until you're better.
-Your physician instructed you to do so for various reasons.
-Getting vaccinated while on blood thinners is safe, but tell the vaccinator. Or if you are taking any similar medications.
Expectations after vaccination
Vaccinations may cause modest side effects. Vaccinations can cause fever, body pains, and arm pain. These symptoms normally last a day or two and can be handled with rest, drinks, or painkillers.
Contact your doctor if you're worried about side effects. Rarely do vaccinations cause serious or long-lasting negative effects. Contact your doctor immediately if your immunisation causes breathing problems, chest pain, confusion, speech loss, or movement. Monitoring and responding to unusual adverse occurrences is ongoing for vaccines.
After each immunisation like that of covid-19 , your body needs several weeks to build full immunity. The duration of vaccine protection is unknown, however most patients are protected from major illness and death for at least 6 months[8].
After vaccination, you can still get infected with a respiratory virus like COVID-19 and spread it, so stay healthy. Keep following health experts' guidance. Cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands often. Vaccinated people are more likely to have mild or no respiratory symptoms[8]. Vaccination in Malta The COVID-19 vaccine is available to all citizens and permanent residents of Malta who may provide proof of residency. The COVID-19 vaccine is available in Malta for American and foreign citizens who have permanent Maltese residency. Vaccines from AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are all readily available in Malta. Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines are also available for such residents. Contact your physician if you have any particular dilemmas or for further information.
Please be aware that a number of walk-in immunisation clinics have been opened in various locations in Malta and Gozo. For further information or to schedule an appointment, please visit https://vaccin.gov.mt/ or dial 145. Clinics open Monday to Saturday
-Paola POYC ;8am - 2pm
-Xewkija Community Clinic; 9am - 1pm (except Tuesdays)
In conclusion, getting vaccinated is one of the safest ways for patients with respiratory conditions to protect their health, even if they are taking prescription medications for their condition. It is always better to prevent a disease rather than treat it after it occurs[1][2].
Citations:
[1] Vaccines that Protect Against Infectious Respiratory Diseases - American Lung Association https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/wellness/vaccines
[2] Reasons for Adults to be Vaccinated - CDC https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/reasons-to-vaccinate.html
[3] Role of Vaccines in COPD Patients - PMC - NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9213018/
[4] Recommended Vaccines for Adults - CDC https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/index.html
[5] Pneumococcal vaccines for preventing pneumonia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - PMC - NCBI https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6422320/
[6] Covid-19, flu, RSV: Here are the vaccine recommendations for fall—and the best time to get them - CNBC https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/12/covid-19-flu-rsv-vaccines-who-should-get-them-and-when.html [7] CDC guidelines on new COVID vaccines and when to get the flu shot with Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH - American Medical Association https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/cdc-guidelines-new-covid-vaccines-and-when-get-flu-shot-andrea-garcia
[8] COVID-19 Vaccines Advice (who.int) /www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/covid-19-vaccines/advice [9]WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines: WHO SAGE Roadmap for prioritizing uses of COVID-19 vaccines: An approach to optimize the global impact of COVID-19 vaccines, based on public health goals, global and national equity, and vaccine access and coverage scenarios
[9]:Influenza season at a peak in Europe, Malta: Influenza season at a peak in Europe, Malta (timesofmalta.com)
(10) The top 10 causes of death - World Health Organization (WHO). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death .
(11) Respiratory infections - World Health Organization. https://platform.who.int/mortality/themes/theme-details/topics/topic-details/MDB/respiratory-infections .
(13) Deaths from respiratory disease from 2015 to 2020 and influenza and covid
(14) Causes of Death. https://ourworldindata.org/causes-of-death .
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