Moscow residents can now receive free flu vaccinations at clinics, schools, kindergartens, and mobile points near metro stations. Doctors emphasize that while vaccination doesn`t guarantee complete immunity from infection, it significantly reduces the risk of severe illness. What flu strains are expected this year, and what vaccines are available?
Moscow has launched its annual flu vaccination campaign. According to Deputy Mayor Anastasia Rakova, residents can get vaccinated at mobile points near metro, MCC, and MCD stations, as well as at city polyclinics. Starting September 10, vaccinations for children will commence in schools and kindergartens. Last week, Rospotrebnadzor (Russia`s consumer watchdog) announced a nationwide vaccination drive, with 70 million vaccine doses procured.
For the current season, the WHO has recommended including antigens from several influenza virus strains in vaccines. These include H1N1, commonly known as swine flu; H3N2, or “Hong Kong flu”; and the B/Victoria lineage. Another B-type lineage, Yamagata, has been rarely detected in recent years but is still included in quadrivalent vaccines, which protect against four strains. Evgeny Timakov, an infectious disease specialist, vaccinologist, and chief physician at “Leader-Medicina” Medical Center, explains:
Evgeny Timakov, Infectious Disease Specialist, Vaccinologist, Chief Physician at “Leader-Medicina” Medical Center:
“Mathematical models, artificial intelligence, and scientific developments allow us to predict which flu strains will be prevalent this year. The situation in our hemisphere has been monitored, and vaccines have been developed specifically for these anticipated strains. The flu vaccine is highly effective if administered correctly and wisely. Immunity after vaccination lasts for six to nine months. It is crucial that over 70% of a collective, family members, or employees in an organization are vaccinated for it to be effective. If only one person gets vaccinated while others do not, unfortunately, a high viral load can still pose a challenge. The vaccinated person might still get infected, but the vaccination will ensure a milder course of the disease.”
What vaccines are currently available? In Moscow`s schools and kindergartens, the domestically produced “Ultrix Quadri” is offered. It protects against four flu strains, is preservative-free, and contains 15 mcg of antigen – a concentration that meets the requirements of the European Medicines Agency. During the vaccination campaign, “Ultrix Quadri” is often available free of charge under the mandatory health insurance (OMS) policy, but it can also be administered at private clinics for a fee, typically around 3,000 rubles including a doctor`s consultation.
Other options include the Russian “Flu-M” vaccine, which also contains 15 mcg of antigen but targets only the three main strains expected this season. There is also the trivalent “Sovigripp,” which has three times less active substance but includes a special adjuvant to boost the immune response, allowing for a reduced antigen dose.
Elizaveta Temnik, an infectious disease specialist with the “Doctis” telemedicine service and a physician at the Samara Regional Children`s Infectious Diseases Hospital, discusses the optimal time for vaccination:
Elizaveta Temnik, Infectious Disease Specialist at “Doctis” Telemedicine Service, Physician at Samara Regional Children`s Infectious Diseases Hospital:
“Timing isn`t as critical as making the decision to get vaccinated. Typically, the peak incidence of flu occurs in mid-to-late winter. Therefore, the peak antibody production in response to the vaccine occurs approximately one month after administration. I personally plan to get vaccinated closer to October, ensuring maximum protection during the peak of the flu epidemic when the highest number of cases is expected. I want to stress that no one can guarantee you won`t get sick 100% after vaccination. However, the vaccine offers a 100% guarantee that a person will not die during the current epidemic. Unfortunately, as a practicing infectious disease specialist working in a hospital, I deal with severe cases, both adults and children. There were fatalities last year among adult and pediatric populations, and 100% of these fatal cases were unvaccinated flu patients.”
Should flu still develop, the primary recommendation from specialists is to rest at home, manage symptoms with appropriate remedies, and use common sense. Antiviral drugs offer little benefit for non-severe cases that do not require hospitalization. This conclusion was reached by Chinese and Canadian researchers who analyzed over 70 clinical trials involving 34,000 patients. Their report was published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine in January.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth