Flu (Influenza) and its vaccine
By: Shania Ali
In order to talk about this vaccine for the flu or influenza, we need to understand what vaccines are and why they are important. Vaccines are important because they help us prevent future infections. They are essentially shots that are inserted in the body to create antibodies in our immune system that protect you from diseases. Once the immune system is familiar with the type of antibodies for that particular disease, the body will be able to fight back and decrease the impact. It’s extremely crucial for people to get vaccines in order to prevent the spread of future diseases.
Moving onto a specific disease and its vaccine, the flu has been around for decades and vaccines are available but there is still some vaccine resistance. The flu or influenza is a respiratory disease that infects the throat, nose, and lungs. It could potentially lead to hospitalization or even death. The flu is caused by a virus and can have common symptoms, such as:
- Fever and chills
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
The flu vaccine is beneficial because even though the flu could be very mild for someone, it could have a completely different effect on someone else. It is important for people with long term health conditions or people more at risk to get the vaccine to help their body develop antibodies for the flu. By getting the vaccine, the antibodies can provide protection against infections with viruses and reduce the risk of flu illnesses.
According to my research, most sources recommend everyone age 6 months and older need to get the flu vaccine every year. However, people at increased risk for complications from the flu are even more encouraged to get the vaccine in order to avoid developing complications from the flu. When getting the vaccine, some common side effects can occur, such as:
- Pain and swelling
- Headache
- Body ache
- Fever
- Upset stomach
There are many forms of flu vaccines available and some include;
- A quadrivalent cell-based influenza shot
- Recombinant quadrivalent influenza shot
- Nasal spray flu vaccine
- High dose flu vaccine
- Flu vaccination by jet injector
- Cell based flu vaccines
- Adjuvanted vaccine
Basis of Hematology and different diseases/treatments
By: Shania Ali
Hematology is the study of blood and consists of a variety of diagnosis, treatments, and blood disorders. It is essentially known as the “anatomy of blood.” Hematologists, doctors who specialize in blood disorders in the lymphatic system, treat many different blood diseases throughout their careers. A few hematologic diseases include:
- Leukemia
- Myelofibrosis
- Polycythemia
- Anemia
- Sickle cell disease
Specific blood diseases that some may not have heard of include anemia in chronic kidney disease or renal disease, which means your kidneys are damaged and cannot filter blood the way it’s supposed to. Anemia is extremely common, but it’s more common in people with chronic kidney disease because there is a decrease in the production of red blood cells when kidneys are damaged, which results in less oxygen being delivered to the organs and tissues.
Another specific disease related to hematology is hemophilia, which is a blood disorder that affects the body’s ability to clot blood. There is no known cause as to why this occurs but possible causes could be genetics, medical conditions, or medicines. There are two different types of blood disorders: acquired bleeding disorders, which includes liver disease associated bleeding and vitamin K deficiency bleeding and inherited bleeding disorders, which includes hemophilia A, B, and C. Sometimes the level of treatment can be determined until an injury happens to observe how the blood clotting reacts.
Porphyria is a rare disorder that happens when “cells fail to change chemicals in the body into heme, which is the substance that provides blood its red color.” This rare disorder is more common in females than in males. Most causes of porphyria are genetics or gene mutations at an early age.
Hematologists go through a long journey of schooling to become as successful as they are. It takes about nine years to become a hematologist. Their school journey consists of these chronological steps:
- Complete a four year bachelor’s degree
- Enroll in medical school by taking mcat
- Residency in internal medicine or oncology
- Fellowship in hematology/oncology
Their job role not only requires them to diagnose but also to treat diseases. A few treatments they could come into contact with in their career are chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, and ablation therapy.
WORK CITED
Flu (Influenza) and its vaccine
“Seasonal Flu Vaccination and Preventable Disease.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 Nov. 2016, https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/flu/index.html .
“Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18 Nov. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/keyfacts.htm .
“Different Types of Flu Vaccines.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 Oct. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/different-flu-vaccines.htm .
Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy (OIDP). “Flu (Influenza).” HHS.gov, 14 Oct. 2021, https://www.hhs.gov/immunization/diseases/flu/index.html.
“Why Vaccination Is Safe and Important.” NHS Choices, NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/why-vaccination-is-safe-and-important/.
Basis of Hematology and different diseases/treatments
“Porphyria.” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/porphyria.
Jones, Stacey. “Hematologists – What They Do & Why You Might Need One.” WebMD, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-hematologist.
“How to Become a Hematologist.” Doctorly.org, 29 Mar. 2019, http://doctorly.org/how-to-become-a-hematologist/.
“What Is Hematology?” Healio, https://www.healio.com/news/hematology-oncology/20120331/what-is-hematology.
Mandal, Dr. Ananya. “Hematology Treatments.” News, 22 Apr. 2019, https://www.news-medical.net/health/Hematology-Treatments.aspx.
Mandal, Dr. Ananya. “What Is Hematology?” News, 27 Feb. 2019, https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Hematology.aspx.
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