How to protect the body from colds in September-October: autumn vaccination in polyclinics of Belarus 2026

September-October in Belarus is not only a velvet baby summer and the beginning of the school year, but also the start of the season, when respiratory infections begin to gain momentum. Clinics are already in full preparation for the annual vaccination campaign. If you are thinking about whether to get vaccinated and how to protect the body from colds in September, it is time to understand what has changed in 2026 and how the vaccination system works in our country.

What is happening to viruses right now

According to the Republican Center for Hygiene, Epidemiology and Public Health, as of mid-September 2026, the situation with acute respiratory infections in Belarus remains stable and controlled. However, non-influenza viruses are already circulating in the air: parainfluenza, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, MS viruses, bocaviruses, seasonal coronaviruses and metapneumoviruses.

But then the picture becomes more serious. Experts predict that in the season 2026/2027, three groups of viruses are expected to circulate simultaneously at once – nefluvian respiratory viruses, influenza viruses and SARS-CoV-2. This means that the body can attack from several sides, and pre-prepared immune defense becomes not a wish, but a reasonable necessity.

1. 1.Three viruses at once: what you need to know Belarusians in the epidemic season 2026-2027, said doctors

Why exactly September-October

Many people postpone vaccination until November or even December, they say, why ahead of schedule. The logic is clear, but wrong. After the vaccine is administered, it takes the body two to three weeks to develop protective antibodies. If vaccinated too late, the immune system simply does not have time to form by the beginning of the epidemiological climb, and the whole idea loses its meaning.

Immunity after vaccination lasts about 6-12 months. And since the flu virus is constantly mutating, last year's vaccine in the new season does not work - the composition of vaccines is reviewed and updated annually. So you need to get vaccinated every year again.

It is important to understand another thing: the flu vaccine protects against influenza, not all SARS. However, if the vaccinated person still gets sick, the disease is much easier - the risk of pneumonia, hospitalization and severe complications is reduced significantly.

What has changed in the composition of vaccines for the season 2026/2027

This season, the strain composition of influenza vaccines has been completely updated – for all three components, in strict accordance with the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Current strains for vaccines based on chicken embryos:

A virus similar to A/Missouri/11/2025 (H1N1) pdm09;

A virus similar to A/Darwin/1454/2025 (H3N2);

A virus similar to B/Tokyo/EIS13-175/2025 (B/Victoria line).

Complete replacement of all components is infrequent. Usually, the WHO corrects one or two strains, and this time updated all. This suggests that the virus is actively changing, and it is necessary to vaccinate with the vaccine of the current season - last year's vaccine will not give the necessary protection.

1. 1.“All three components are new”: Belarus updated the composition of the flu vaccine

What vaccines are available and how much they cost

There are two vaccination schemes in Belarus for the 2026/2027 season: free and paid.

Free vaccination

At the expense of the republican and local budgets, vaccination is done to those who are at risk. The Russian-made Grippol Plus vaccine is used - trivalent subunit polyoxidonium with immunoadjuvant, which enhances the immune response and reduces the antigenic load on the body. Suitable for children from 6 months and pregnant women.

The first batch of free vaccine will go to clinics in early October 2026.

Paid vaccination

For everyone, quadrivalent vaccines are available – they protect against four strains (two A and two B) instead of three, providing broader protection:

- Vaxigrip Tetra (France);

- Influvak Tetra (Netherlands/Switzerland);

- Ultrix Quadri (Russia).

The price of paid vaccines is within 30-40 Belarusian rubles per dose. For example, “Vaksigrip Tetra” last season cost about 39 rubles. You can make a paid vaccination in the clinic at the place of residence or in private medical centers.

The difference between a trivalent and quadrivalent vaccine is the number of strains it protects against. Quadrivalent overlaps the additional lineage of the B virus, which is especially true when it is not known in advance which strain will dominate.

Who needs the vaccine first

Vaccination against influenza is especially recommended for the following categories of citizens:

Children from 6 months to 3 years - in babies, immunity is still formed, and the flu is especially dangerous for them.

· Children over 3 years old and adults with chronic diseases – diabetes, heart, lung, kidney disease, as well as immunodeficiency conditions.

People over 65 years old – with age, the immune defense weakens.

Pregnant women - the vaccine protects both the expectant mother and the baby (the safest in the II and III trimesters). In the period 2-3 days before vaccination, on the day of vaccination and within a week after it is recommended to refrain from eating unusual foods and drinks. It is also worth eliminating potential food and cosmetic allergens from the diet and care - this will help reduce the risk of undesirable reactions.

Medical and pharmaceutical workers – they come into contact with the infection more often than others.

Children and adults in institutions with round-the-clock stay – boarding schools, nursing homes, orphanages.

Employees of state bodies ensuring the security of the state and the life of the population.

If you fall into any of these categories, the vaccine is free. It is advisable to inform in advance about your desire to your clinic - this helps health care institutions calculate the required number of doses.

What about COVID-19

The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus continues to circulate in the population, and COVID-19 vaccination is also on the agenda. In Belarus, the Russian-made Convasel vaccine is used for this.

The COVID-19 vaccine is primarily recommended for:

- adults with immunosuppression (immunodeficiencies, HIV infection, autoimmune, oncological and oncohematological diseases);

- people 60 years and older;

adults who live or work in institutions with round-the-clock stay.

The main goal of vaccination against both influenza and COVID-19 is one - to prevent a severe course of the disease and an adverse outcome.

How the vaccine works: step by step

Many are afraid of vaccinations because of myths about difficult preparation or side effects. In fact, everything is much simpler than it seems.

Register or come to the clinic at the place of residence. If you are at risk, the vaccine is free. If you want a paid vaccine, check its availability and cost.

Your doctor will examine you before the procedure. It's mandatory and free. The specialist will measure the temperature, check the throat, ask about health.

They'll get vaccinated. The introduction takes a few seconds - intramuscular or deep subcutaneous. Children under 3 years old are injected into the anterior lateral surface of the thigh, the rest into the upper third of the shoulder.

Surveillance. It is recommended to spend 15-30 minutes in the clinic after the injection - in case of a reaction, although serious side effects are extremely rare.

No special training is required. The main condition is that on the day of vaccination you should feel good: without acute diseases and exacerbations of chronic diseases.

Contraindications: when vaccination can not be done

There are situations when vaccination will have to be postponed or canceled:

allergy to vaccine components (in particular, chicken protein);

• acute infectious diseases with temperature;

• exacerbation of chronic diseases.

In case of exacerbation or acute infection, the vaccine will simply be transferred - after recovery or remission.

Nonspecific prevention: what can be done today

The vaccine is not the only tool. While the vaccine has not arrived or immunity has not yet formed, simple rules that are familiar to everyone, but for some reason are often ignored:

Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Hands are the main way of transmission of respiratory viruses.

Ventilate rooms regularly - this reduces the concentration of viruses in the air.

wet cleaning at least once a day, paying attention to surfaces that you often touch.

close contact with people who have signs of a cold.

Wear a mask in crowded areas during the period of rising incidence.

1. 1.How to protect children during SARS: comments of doctors and epidemiologists

These measures do not replace vaccination, but in the complex work well. Vaccination forms a specific immunity against specific viruses, and hygiene and common sense reduce the risk of encountering any pathogens.

Read also:

1. 1.In Belarus expect a seasonal rise in the incidence of influenza: the Ministry of health calls for vaccination
2. 2.New virus in China: how is it transmitted and is there a threat to Belarusians, said doctors

Photo: BelTA archive, Photo: Pixabay / is illustrative