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Annual influenza vaccination is especially relevant for older people because of their high risk of complications caused by influenza virus infection. It is important to get the elderly and other groups at risk of influenza derived complications to be vaccinated before the onset of the epidemic activity. Vaccination administered too early or delayed will not allow for desired protection. In northern hemisphere countries, influenza vaccination campaign runs between mid-September and the first week of December, with marked variations across countries. Influenza vaccine has moderate effectiveness in its ability to produce a protective immune response, which is reached within 14 days of having received the vaccine. The immunity achieved is attenuated over time resulting in a marked decline in vaccine effectiveness. One strategy used in many countries to limit this decline is to delay the vaccination period by one to two weeks. This delay either compresses the period towards the onset when the epidemic wave usually begins, so that when it initiates the degree of protective immunity of individuals is high. |
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