Traveller vaccination influenza

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]

Overview

Protection against seasonal influenza is not specific to the needs of most travellers. During the influenza season, travellers should be offered vaccination against influenza according to national recommendations.

Disease cause

Influenza viruses of types A and B. Type A viruses causing seasonal epidemics belong to subtypes H1, H2, or H3, and N1 or N2. More than one subtype of influenza A virus may circulate in the community during a season. Subtle genotypic variation may also be demonstrated among strains of influenza B.

Transmission

Airborne (droplets) and by direct contact.

Nature of the disease

Acute respiratory infection, mostly mild, but occasionally severe with high fever, sore throat, cough and aches. Complications include viral pneumonitis and secondary infections such as bacterial pneumonia. Influenza is most severe in elderly people, pregnant women, young children and immunocompromised individuals.

Geographical distribution

Worldwide. In the northern hemisphere from November to April; in the southern hemisphere from April to September. In tropical areas there is no clear seasonal pattern

Risk for travellers

Travellers are not a particular risk group for influenza, but in some countries appropriate health care may be unavailable or hard to access for non-residents in case of severe disease.

Vaccine

Influenza vaccines are either inactivated or live attenuated.

• Inactivated vaccines are used for children aged more than 6 months, pregnant women, persons with high-risk medical conditions and the elderly.
• Healthy non-pregnant individuals aged 2-49 years may alternatively receive live attenuated influenza vaccines.

prevailing influenza strains in the northern and southern hemispheres may differ significantly, the composition of the influenza vaccine is different for each hemisphere and is specified at different times in the year, just before the start of the influenza season in each.

Contraindications

Vaccination is contraindicated in case of severe egg allergy, including anaphylactic reaction.