Why You Should Get Vaccinated Every Year and Who Should Not
In Russia recorded the emergence of new strains of influenza. Scientists told RBC why the flu mutates quickly and whether it is possible to create a vaccine with long-term protection. There are also those for whom the vaccine is not recommended. Details - in the article RBC
New strains of influenza in Russia
In Russia, new strains of the influenza virus have been identified, to which the Russians have not yet formed immunity, Dmitry Lioznov, director of the Smorodintsev Institute of Influenza, told RBC. At the same time, in the country, according to Rospotrebnadzor, at the end of September, there was an increase in the incidence of SARS, influenza and COVID-19: in the 38th week of 2026, 734 thousand cases were recorded, which is 33.8% more than in the previous week.
“The epidemiological situation with SARS, influenza and COVID-19 in Russia is developing in full accordance with forecasts, but the intensity of the spread of respiratory infections is increasing,” the ministry said.
Lioznov in an interview with RBC assessed the epidemiological situation in Russia as stable. He also stressed that in such a situation it is especially important to vaccinate people at risk, especially children, pregnant women, the elderly and patients with chronic diseases. To form immunity after vaccination, it takes at least 14 days.
Why the flu mutates so quickly
Like all viruses and bacteria, influenza has a mechanism for mutation variability. All RNA-containing mutate quickly, albeit at different rates, due to the peculiarities of their RNA polymerases, that is, enzymes that copy the chains of RNA, told RBC virologist Alexei Agranovsky.
“In the influenza virus, the genome is divided between eight RNA segments, which gives the genome an additional opportunity to change through pseudo-recombination, that is, the exchange of RNA segments between strains,” he said.
Immunologist Vladislav Zhemchugov compared the substance of heredity DNA with beads. “These beads jump from place to place on their own 20 times a day. If they jump over, then it already becomes a new strain. This happens always and all the time, this is a mechanism for their adaptation to environmental changes, he explained in an interview with RBC.
Is it possible to create a universal vaccine
Agranovskiy admitted the chance to create a universal vaccine that would protect against influenza every year, but stressed that so far there is no such vaccine. “Existing vaccines work, they just have to be retargeted.” It's not a problem for the population. For vaccine developers, this is additional work, but they are familiar people, he said.
According to Zhemchugov, scientists are already trying to create a vaccine that targets the cow (main) part of the virus, which mutates weaker than the surface antigen. The vaccine could remain effective for several years.
Now they say “new virus” is not a new virus. This is an updated virus that, as a result of the mutation, gained advantages in spreading. Immunity to him is still due to the part that remained unchanged, said Zhemchugov.
Is there a strong immunity to the flu
The level of innate immunity to the flu is different for everyone. Regardless of which strain of influenza virus is circulating, people with a stronger innate immune response get sick less often and carry the infection more easily. This also applies to other infectious diseases, Agranovskiy noted.
Meanwhile, acquired immunity, that is, developed after vaccination or disease, persists for 6-18 months. It is effective against re-infection with the same strain of the virus, but when infected with other strains of influenza, its protective role is significantly reduced, Agranovsky stressed.
According to Zhemchugov, many people are protected from the flu virus, and the immune system plays a key role here. “Before you decide whether to get vaccinated or not, you need to be examined and understand whether there are immuno-receptive diseases,” he advised.
Who doctors do not recommend the flu vaccine
First of all, vaccination against influenza is not recommended for people with individual intolerance to the components of the vaccine, said the interviewed experts of RBC. Before getting vaccinated, you should familiarize yourself with contraindications.
In addition, vaccination is contraindicated at the time of acute viral infection, such patients are allowed to vaccinate only two weeks after recovery. Vaccination is also not done to those who have had an allergic reaction to chicken egg protein.
Oncological diseases are not an absolute contraindication for influenza vaccination, but you need to consult your doctor. Similar recommendations – to coordinate with your doctor – are given to patients with HIV infection.
