The intranasal flu vaccine arrives at pharmacies for people from 2 to 18 years old and for 37 euros

The intranasal vaccine against the flu arrives at pharmacies. The aerosol is administered nasally under medical prescription to people of between 2 and 18 years old. Its price is 37 euros and must be administered by a professional nurse. The vaccine was already authorized by the European Commission in the year 2013 and is used in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France or Germany.

This vaccine is quadrivalent, which means that it has two strains of virus A and two strains of virus B. This implies that it has more antibodies than the traditional injection against the disease. In other words: they are more effective than injected vaccines in a muscle because they can induce immune responses in the mucosa of the respiratory tract, preventing infection at the portal of entry of the virus, at the same time that they can stimulate systemic immune responses throughout the body, according to Europe Press.

In this sense, the director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesushas warned this Wednesday of the increase in cases of coronavirus and flu in Europe and has asked vaccinate against both diseases to the most vulnerable. “Several countries in Europe are reporting an increase in Covid cases, hospitalizations and deaths. This is to be expected as the weather cools, people are spending more time together indoors and most states do not have measures in place to limit the spread of the virus,” he said.

The WHO director-general has asked countries to increase surveillance systems, testing and sequencing of the virus and also ensure that all groups at highest risk are vaccinated. “Measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus during the pandemic also helped reduce the burden of influenza. But with most of those measures lifted, the flu is back and should not be taken lightly. Influenza vaccines are safe and effective in reducing serious illness and death, especially among groups at higher risk. So please, get a flu shot“, has settled.