SPECIFIC PREVENTION OF INFLUENZA AND THE ATTITUDE OF THE CITIZENS OF THE ARKHANGELSK REGION TOWARDS IT

ABSTRACT

Influenza is an acute viral infection, which is manifested by a short-term hyperthermia, high contagiousness, intoxication and respiratory system damage, frequently causing various complications. Specific prevention of influenza is an important component in the disease control, preventing severe forms and complications. We analyzed the attitude of the citizens of the Arkhangelsk region towards vaccination against influenza by questioning the population aged from 18 to 65 and using a special questionnaire developed by us.

Keywords: vaccination, prophylactic vaccine, influenza.

Every year there is a period of time, which is called the influenza season. In vaccinated people, in case of infection, the disease passes in a mild form, and complications practically do not occur. In healthy adults, the influenza vaccine provides protection even if the circulating viruses do not exactly match the vaccine viruses. However, for older people, influenza vaccination might be less effective in prevention the disease, but it reduces the severity of the disease and the possibility of complications and death. Vaccination is especially important for the ones who have high risks of developing complications and for the ones who live with people from the high-risk groups.” [2]. Many people now refuse to vaccinate, believing that the vaccination can harm a person's health more than the disease itself. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 300,000 and 500,000 people worldwide die from the influenza every year. Experts from the WHO have concluded that most of the arguments of anti-vaxxers are not proven by scientific facts and are characterized as a "disturbing and dangerous delusion". [1].

Results: In March 2021, 100 people aged 18 to 65 years were surveyed by a specially designed questionnaire that contained 17 questions. There were 30% men and 70% women respondents. 51% of the respondents were the students of the Northern State Medical University, Arkhangelsk, 13% were the students of another university, 6% were medical workers, 28% were people of another profession, 2% were retirement people. 42% of respondents turned out to be full vaccinated, 40% vaccinate selectively, 16% refuse to vaccinate and 2% have medical withdrawal. The majority of respondents (67%) consider themselves informed about vaccinal prevention questions, but 12% do not know about vaccines and about the purpose of vaccination, 21% of people doubt and find it difficult to answer about their awareness. 32% of asked people prefer domestic vaccines, and 50% prefer imported ones. 15% of respondents do not consider influenza a dangerous disease, and 7% do not know any information about this disease at all. In 2020, 74% of respondents were vaccinated against influenza, 91% of which noted a positive effect (they did not get influenza, only a post-vaccination reaction was registered, which was expressed in a short-term hyperthermia, weakness, symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections in the first days after vaccination), 7% of vaccinated people had a mild form of disease without any complications after the vaccination, 2% of vaccinated respondents were hospitalized. 26 % of respondents do not get vaccinated against influenza. The following reasons were given: "I'm afraid of complications" -41%, "I think that vaccines are not high quality ones"-21%, "I think that vaccines do not protect against infection enough"-16%, "it's better to go through a disease" - 10%, "a doctor / medical worker advised not to get vaccinated" - 8%, "there is no time"-4%. 83% of respondents use antiviral drugs and general tonic agents to prevent the influenza. 17% of people do not use any preventive measures and do not take medications, believing that the body will overcome the infection by itself.

Conclusions: The majority of respondents (67%) consider themselves informed about vaccinal prevention questions, but 33% of respondents do not know about vaccines or find it complicated to share their awareness. 15% of respondents do not consider influenza a dangerous disease, and 7% do not have enough knowledge about this infection disease at all. In 2020, 74% of respondents were vaccinated against influenza, 91% of which noted a positive effect after, 7% of vaccinated people had a mild form of disease without any complications after the vaccination, 2% of vaccinated respondents were hospitalized. It is more likely that the respondents who were sick and those who were hospitalized were at the stage of the incubation period of the disease, or their immune system was weakened. The rest of the respondents (26%) refuse to get vaccinated due to various reasons, relying on some other methods of prophylactics. Influenza is often not perceived as a mortal and dangerous disease, but the consequences of this disease can be quite tragic. Therefore, we consider it necessary to improve the awareness of the population in the issues of vaccinal prevention of influenza.

References:

1. World Health Organization (WHO) [Electronic resource]: Access mode: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/influenza-(seasonal) (accessed: 05.02.2022)
2. Influenza vaccination in immunocompromised populations: Strategies to improve immunogenicity. Caldera F, Mercer M, Samson SI, Pitt JM, Hayney MS. Vaccine. 2021