随着冬季的脚步渐近,感冒、流感及新冠肺炎等病毒的传染风险也在上升。如果您已年满 65 岁、免疫功能较低,或患有心脏病或糖尿病等慢性疾病,那么您患上严重疾病的风险就会更高。加拿大医疗专家强烈建议国民同时注射流感疫苗和更新版的新冠疫苗,以获得最大的保护,特别是对于高风险人群来说,接种疫苗尤为重要。1,2
在华裔社区的大家庭里,往往都有年长的祖父母和年幼的孩子,接种疫苗因此更显重要。保护家庭中最脆弱的成员,是减少严重疾病在家中传播的关键。
双管齐下
疫苗是防止自己和身边的人因流感和新冠病毒而患上严重疾病的最有效方法之一。这两种疫苗都会定期更新,以应对病毒株的不断变异,确保疫苗对新出现的变种保持有效。1,2
虽然流感和新冠肺炎都是传染性呼吸道疾病,但它们的严重程度、传播途径和并发症风险都有所不同。其中一个主要的区别是,新冠肺炎更常出现严重病情。4根据2023 年的一项调查发现,80%免疫功能较低的受访者对新冠肺炎有所担忧或非常担忧,而40% 的受访者对该疾病更是感到焦虑。5
此外,长者因新冠肺炎而出现严重症状和并发症的风险也较高。国家免疫咨询委员会 (National Advisory Committee on Immunization,简称NACI)的最新指引强烈建议 65 岁及以上的成年人、长期护理院的住客和有潜在健康问题的人接种新冠疫苗。6
尽管疫苗接种很重要,但统计数据显示,接种新冠疫苗较接种流感疫苗的人数为少。7其实,两种疫苗都很重要。同时注射两针疫苗既安全又方便,可以大大降低您出现严重感染的机会。6
即使您已经接种了原来的新冠疫苗,保护作用也会随着时间过去而减弱。更新版的疫苗旨在维持您的免疫力,尤其是针对新病毒株的抵抗力。这对于几代同堂的家庭,或从事需要与公众直接互动或提供必需服务的职业的人尤其重要。目前的研究表明,接种更新版 COVID-19 疫苗追加剂的人住院风险较低。6
应对流感和新冠肺炎季节的六个建议
1. 在同一天接种两种疫苗:同时接种流感疫苗和新冠加强针不但安全可靠,而且在安排上更方便。6 2. 鼓励家人与您一起接种:许多疫苗接种诊所都欢迎全家一起接种,轻松确保每个家人都受到保护。 3. 留意最新情况。请关注加拿大卫生部等本地卫生部门的最新疫苗指引,包括未来进一步接种加强针的任何建议。 4. 勤洗手是关键:经常洗手可以有效防止感染,同时也可考虑在公共交通工具或医疗机构等高风险环境佩戴口罩。8 5. 经常锻炼和保持均衡饮食:多运动、吃蔬果和蛋白质,并保持充足的水分,都有助于强化您的免疫系统。 6. 重视心理健康:日照渐短着实会影响身心,参加有趣的活动、练习冥想或与亲人联系,将有助减轻压力。9 |
在这个红叶落索的季节,全方位保持身心健康尤为重要。请立即咨询医护专业人员,或前往本地药房接种最新的流感疫苗和新冠疫苗。
参考资料
1 Government of Canada. Guidance on the use of COVID-19 vaccines during the fall of 2024. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/vaccines-immunization/national-advisory-committee-immunization-guidance-covid-19-vaccines-fall-2024.html Accessed September 27, 2024
2 Government of Canada. Influenza vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-10-influenza-vaccine.html Accessed July 30, 2024
3 Government of Canada. Respiratory infectious diseases: How to reduce the spread with personal protective measures. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/respiratory-infectious-diseases-reduce-spread-personal-protective-measures.html Accessed October 8, 2024
4 Mayo Clinic. COVID-19 vs. flu: Similarities and differences. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-vs-flu/art-20490339 Accessed September 27, 2024
5 Canadian Immunocompromised Advocacy Network. Protection Immunocompromised Canadians from COVID-19 and Beyond. Available at: https://immunocompromised.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023_11_16-CIAN-Position-Paper-1.pdf Accessed October 2, 2024
6 Government of Canada. COVID-19 vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/healthy-living/canadian-immunization-guide-part-4-active-vaccines/page-26-covid-19-vaccine.html Accessed October 2, 2024
7 Government of Canada. Highlights from the 2023 – 2024 Seasonal Influenza (Flu) Vaccination Coverage Survey. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccines/vaccination-coverage/seasonal-influenza-survey-results-2023-2024.html Accessed October 8, 2024
8 The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Hand Washing: Reducing the Risk of Common Infections. Available at: https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/diseases/washing_hands.html. Accessed September 27, 2024.
9 Canadian Mental Health Association Edmonton. Winter Mental Health: A Guide for Good Practices. Available at: https://edmonton.cmha.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/CMHA-Edmonton-Winter-Mental-Health-Guide.pdf Accessed July 23, 2024