Via practica 11/2009

The importance of vaccination against influenza in the time of a pandemic

Influenza is a highly contagious virus infection that affects the whole organism, not only the respiratory tract. The gravity of influenza is often underestimated because many people mistake common acute respiratory infections caused by various non-influenza viruses for influenza. In June 2009, WHO raised the level of H1N1 influenza pandemic alert to the highest phase. The alert was raised because of the number of new cases reported worldwide and not because of the seriousness of the new type of the influenza virus. These days, the majority of the population is afraid of the pandemic influenza and its consequences. Only small importance is attached to the vaccination against seasonal influenza, while interest in the pandemic vaccine is growing. The course of a seasonal influenza is more serious, and its infectiousness and mortality reach much higher levels than those of the pandemic influenza. It is therefore highly important and necessary to vaccinate against seasonal influenza in the time of a pandemic.

Keywords: seasonal influenza, pandemic influenza, vaccination