Conjunctivitis is when a part of your eye becomes inflamed, resulting in watery, red and itchy eyes. The conjunctivae are thin protective linings that cover the front of our eyeballs and the insides of our eyelids. The following are some common reasons for conjunctivitis:

•       Viral infection (more common in adults)

•       Bacterial infection (more common in children)

•       Allergic reaction

•       Contact lens

•       Foreign bodies (such as sand)

•       Chemicals

Bacterial and viral conjunctivitis are easily spread from person to person or through contact with contaminated objects. 

Do I need antibiotics?

If your conjunctivitis is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic eye drops or ointment should be used.

It is important that you continue using the antibiotics for as long as your doctor instructed, even if your eye starts looking better or you start to feel better.

What other medicines will my doctor give me? 

Most cases of conjunctivitis go away on their own without treatment. Your doctor may give you some eye lubricant drops to relieve the discomfort. 

Sometimes your doctor may also give you antihistamine/decongestant eye drops to help with itchiness and irritation.

When can I return to work? When can my child return to school?

For bacterial conjunctivitis, you can return to work or school after receiving 24 hours of antibiotic eye drops or ointment.

For viral conjunctivitis, it is recommended to not attend school or return to work until the discharge has resolved, which may last more than 1 week. This is important to prevent the spread of infection.

What can I do at home to feel better?

DOs

•      Use a moist cotton ball or a clean wet cloth to remove discharges or crusting if present

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is caused by small airborne particles that behave as allergens in our nasal passages. These allergens provoke an allergic reaction and our body produces substances that cause swelling and congestion (inflammation). When this happens, it is known as rhinitis. AR often runs in families.

The usual symptoms are an itchy runny nose and sneezing. Sometimes, the mucus from the nose will run down the back of your throat (postnasal drip). For some, the symptoms go beyond the nasal passages and affect the eyes, ears, throat, and even sleep.

AR can be seasonal (occurring during specific seasons) or year-round. Seasonal AR allergens include pollens from trees, grasses, and weeds. Year-round AR allergens include dust mites, cockroaches, animal dander, etc. For some people. this becomes a lifelong condition that waxes and wanes over time.

What medicines will my doctor give me? 

Your doctor will provide you with devices you can use to rinse your nose. Besides helping to clean the insides of the nose, this helps to get rid of pollen and other allergens.

Your doctor may also give you some steroid nose sprays. They help to lessen the swelling in the nose, nasal congestion, and post-nasal drip. It can take up to days and weeks before they work. They are only effective if you take them daily.

Your doctor may also give you some antihistamines and decongestants to help with itching, sneezing, and runny nose symptoms. We advise that you do not use the decongestants more than instructed by your doctor, as overuse will sometimes make your symptoms worse.

If required, your doctor may refer you to an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist or offer you other treatments such as allergy shots or pills.

What can I do at home to feel better?

DOs

•      Rinse your nose 

•      Take medications as instructed to control your symptoms

DON'Ts

•      Avoid allergens that will make you feel worse (including cats or dogs)

•      Don't be around freshly cut grass or raked leaves

•      Don't smoke and avoid second hand smoke

How do I prevent allergic rhinitis?

If you get symptoms at the same time every year, talk with your doctor. Some people can prevent symptoms by starting their medications 1 to 2 weeks before that time of the year.

When can I return to work? When can my child return to school?

You can resume your normal activities once you feel better. It is important to know if the environment has allergens that will make you feel worse. If so, please avoid them and rest at home until you feel well.

When should I see my doctor again?

Please contact your doctor if you have: 

•      Fever

•      Ear or sinus pain, or a headache

•      Worsening symptoms even after treatment

•      Pain or bleeding from inside your nose 

•      Blood when you cough

Why get vaccinated?

Varicella (also called chickenpox) is a very contagious viral disease. It is caused by the varicella zoster virus. Chickenpox is usually mild, but it can be serious in infants under 12 months of age, adolescents, adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. Chickenpox causes an itchy rash that usually lasts about a week. It can also cause:

•     Fever

•     Tiredness

•     Loss of appetite

•     Headache

More serious complications can include:

•     Skin infections

•     Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)

•     Inflammation of blood vessels

•     Swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord coverings (encephalitis or meningitis)

•     Blood stream, bone, or joint infections

Some people get so sick that they need to be hospitalized.It doesn’t happen often, but people can die from chickenpox. Some people who get chickenpox get a painful rash called shingles(also known as herpes zoster) years later. Chickenpox can spread easily from an infected person to anyone who has not had chickenpox and has not gotten chickenpox vaccine.

Chickenpox vaccine

2 doses: First dose at 12-18 months old, second dose at 4 years old.

Catch up vaccination:For 12 years old and below, 2 doses with 12 weeks interval, for 13 years old and above, 2 doses with 4 to 8 weeks interval. There are no known risks to getting chickenpox vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.

Some people should not get this vaccine 

Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting the vaccine:

•     Has any severe, life-threatening allergies. A person who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of chickenpox vaccine, or has a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, may be advised not to be vaccinated. Ask your health care provider if you want information about vaccine components

•     Is pregnant, or thinks she might be pregnant. Pregnant women should wait to get chickenpox vaccine until after they are no longer pregnant. Women should avoid getting pregnant for at least 3 months after getting chickenpox vaccine

•     Has a weakened immune system due to disease (such as cancer or HIV/AIDS) or medical treatments (such as radiation, immunotherapy, steroids, or chemotherapy)

•     Has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of immune system problems

•     Is taking salicylates (such as aspirin). People should avoid using salicylates for 6 weeks after getting varicella vaccine

•     Has recently had a blood transfusion or received other blood products. You might be advised to postpone chickenpox vaccination for 3 months or more

•     Has tuberculosis

•     Has gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks. Live vaccines given too close together might not work as well

•     Is not feeling well. A mild illness, such as a cold, is usually not a reason to postpone a vaccination. Someone who is moderately or severely ill should probably wait. Your doctor can advise you

Risk of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of reactions. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible.

After vaccination, please stay in clinic observation area for 30 minutes.

Getting chickenpox vaccine is much safer than getting chickenpox disease. Most people who get chickenpox vaccine do not have any problems with it. After chickenpox vaccination, a person might experience:

Minor events

•     Sore arm from the injection

•     Fever

•     Redness or rash at the injection site

If these events happen, they usually begin within 2 weeks after the shot. They occur less often after the second dose.

More serious events following chickenpox vaccination are rare. They can include

•     Seizure (jerking or staring) often associated with fever

•     Infection of the lungs (pneumonia) or the brain and spinal cord coverings (meningitis)

•     Rash all over the body

A person who develops a rash after chickenpox vaccination might be able to spread the varicella vaccine virus to an unprotected person. Even though this happens very rarely, anyone who gets a rash should stay away from people with weakened immune systems and unvaccinated infants until the rash goes away. Talk with your health care provider to learn more.

Other things that could happen after this vaccine

•     People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears

•     Some people get shoulder pain that can be more severe and longer-lasting than routine soreness that can follow injections. This happens very rarely

•     Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions to a vaccine are estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 120 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

•     Jiahui Health

Contact number: 400-868-3000

•     Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Contact number: 021-62758710

Why get vaccinated?

Rotavirus is a virus that causes diarrhea, mostly in babies and young children. The diarrhea can be severe, and lead to dehydration. Vomiting and fever are also common in babies with rotavirus.

Before rotavirus vaccine, rotavirus disease was a common and serious health problem for children. Since the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine, hospitalizations and emergency visits for rotavirus have dropped dramatically.

Rotavirus vaccine

Recommended age of vaccination: 2 months old to 3 years old, once a year. Rotavirus vaccine may safely be given at the same time as other vaccines. Almost all babies who get rotavirus vaccine will be protected from severe rotavirus diarrhea. And most of these babies will not get rotavirus diarrhea at all. The vaccine will not prevent diarrhea or vomiting caused by other germs.

Some babies should not get this vaccine 

A baby who has had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a dose of rotavirus vaccine should not get another dose. A baby who has a severe allergy to any part of rotavirus vaccine should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if your baby has any severe allergies that you know of, including a severe allergy to latex.

•     Babies with“severe combined immunodeficiency” (SCID) should not get rotavirus vaccine

•     Babies who have had a type of bowel blockage called “intussusception” should not get rotavirus vaccine

•     Babies who are mildly ill can get the vaccine. Babies who are moderately or severely ill should wait until they recover.This includes babies with moderate or severe diarrhea or vomiting

Check with your doctor if your baby's immune system is weakened because of

•     HIV/AIDS, or any other disease that affects the immune system

•     Treatment with drugs such as steroids

•     Cancer, or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

Risks of a vaccine reaction

With a vaccine, like any medicine, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own. Serious side effects are also possible but are rare. Most babies who get rotavirus vaccine do not have any problems with it. But some problems have been associated with rotavirus vaccine.

After vaccination, please stay in clinic observation area for 30 minutes.

Mild problems following rotavirus vaccine

Babies might become irritable, or have mild, temporary diarrhea or vomiting after getting a dose of rotavirus vaccine.

Serious problems following rotavirus vaccine

Intussusception is a type of bowel blockage that is treated in a hospital, and could require surgery. It happens“naturally”in some babies every year and usually there is no known reason for it. There is also a very small risk of intussusception from rotavirus vaccination, usually within a week after 1^st or 2 ^nd vaccine dose.  

Problem that could happen after any vaccine

Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at fever than 1 in a million doses, and usually happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination. As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

What if there is a serious problem?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 120 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

•     Jiahui Health

Contact number: 400-868-3000

•     Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Contact number: 021-62758710

Why get vaccinated?

Vaccination can protect people from polio. Polio is a disease caused by a virus. It is spread mainly by person-to-person contact. It can also be spread by consuming food or drinks that are contaminated with the feces of an infected person.

Most people infected with polio have no symptoms, and many recover without complications. But sometimes people who get polio develop paralysis (cannot move their arms or legs). Polio can result in permanent disability. Polio can also cause death, usually by paralyzing the muscles used for breathing.

Polio used to be very common, it paralyzed and killed thousands of people every year before polio vaccine was introduced. There is no cure for polio infection, but it can be prevented by vaccination.

Polio still occurs in parts of the world. Therefore we need to be protected by vaccination. If the effort to eliminate the disease from the world is successful, some day we won’t need polio vaccine. Until then, we need to keep getting our children vaccinated.

Polio vaccine 

Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) can prevent polio. Most people should get IPV when they are children. IPV is usually given 4 doses at 2, 3, 4 months old and at 4 years old.Combination vaccine 5-in-1 contains IPV, total 4 doses at 2, 3, 4 months old and 18 months old.

The schedule might be different for some children (including those traveling to certain countries and those who receive IPV as part of a combination vaccine).Your health care provider can give you more information.

Some people should not get this vaccine 

Tell the person who is giving the vaccine:

•     If the person getting the vaccine has any severe, life-threatening allergies. If you ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of IPV, or have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you may be advised not to get vaccinated. Ask your health care provider if you want information about vaccine components

•     If the person getting the vaccine is not feeling well. If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you can probably get the vaccine today. If you are moderately or severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover. Your doctor can advise you

Risk of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible. Some people who get IPV get a sore spot where the shot was given. IPV has not been known to cause serious problems, and most people do not have any problems with it.

fter vaccination, please stay in clinic observation area for 30 minutes.

Problems that could happen after any vaccine

•     People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears

•     Some people get shoulder pain that can be more severe and longer-lasting than the more routine soreness that can follow injections. This happens very rarely

•     Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 120 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

•     Jiahui Health

Contact number: 400-868-3000

•     Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Contact number: 021-62758710

Website:http: //www.scdc.sh.cn

Reference

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine Information Statement: Polio Vaccine, 07/20/2016

Why get vaccinated?

Vaccination can protect infants from pneumococcal disease.Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria that can spread from person to person through close contact. It can cause ear infections, and it can also lead to more serious infections of the:

•     Lungs(pneumonia)

•     Blood (bacteremia)

•     Covering of the brain and spinal cord(meningitis)

Pneumococcal pneumonia is most common among adults. Pneumococcal meningitis can cause deafness and brain damage, and it kills about 1 child in 10 who get it. Anyone can get pneumococcal disease, but children under 2 years of age and adults 65 years and older, people with certain medical conditions, and cigarette smokers are at the highest risk.

Treatment of pneumococcal infections with penicillin and other drugs is not as effective as it used to be, because some strains of the disease have become resistant to these drugs. This makes prevention of the disease, through vaccination, even more important.

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (called PCV13) protects against 13 types of pneumococcal bacteria. PCV13 is routinely given to infants at 2, 4, 6, and 12–15 months of age. Your doctor can give you details.

Some people should not get this vaccine 

Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a dose of this vaccine, to an earlier pneumococcal vaccine called PCV7, or to any vaccine containing diphtheria toxoid (for example, DTaP), should not get PCV13. 

Anyone with a severe allergy to any component of PCV13 should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if the person being vaccinated has any severe allergies.If the person scheduled for vaccination is not feeling well, your healthcare provider might decide to reschedule the shot on another day.

Risks of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of reactions. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible.

After vaccination, please stay in clinic observation area for 30 minutes.

The most common problems reported among infants were:

•     About half became drowsy after the shot, had a temporary loss of appetite, or had redness or tenderness where the shot was given

•     About 1 out of 3 had swelling where the shot was given

•     About 1 out of 3 had a mild fever, and about 1 in 20 had a fever over 102.2°F

•     Up to about 8 out of 10 became fussy or irritable

Adults have reported pain, redness, and swelling where the shot was given; also mild fever, fatigue, headache, chills, or muscle pain. Young children who get PCV13 along with inactivated flu vaccine at the same time may be at increased risk for seizures caused by fever. Ask your doctor for more information.

Problems that could happen after any vaccine

•     People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears

•     Some older children and adults get severe pain in the shoulder and have difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This happens very rarely

•     Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination

As with any medicine, there is a very small chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 120 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

•     Jiahui Health

Contact number: 400-868-3000

•     Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Contact number: 021-62758710

Why get vaccinated?

Measles, mumps, and rubella are viral diseases that can have serious consequences. Before vaccines, these diseases were very common in many part of the world. Especially among children. 

Measles

•     Measles virus causes symptoms that can include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, commonly followed by a rash that covers the whole body

•     Measles can lead to ear infections, diarrhea, and infection of the lungs (pneumonia). Rarely, measles can cause brain damage or death 

Mumps

•     Mumps virus causes fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, loss of appetite, and swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides

•     Mumps can lead to deafness, swelling of the brain and/or spinal cord covering (encephalitis or meningitis), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and, very rarely, death

Rubella (also known as German Measles)

•     Rubella virus causes fever, sore throat, rash, headache, and eye irritation

•     Rubella can cause arthritis in up to half of teenage and adult women

•     If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects

These diseases can easily spread from person to person. Measles doesn't even require personal contact. You can get measles by entering a room that a person with measles left up to 2 hours before.

Vaccines and high rates of vaccination have made these diseases much less common in the world.

MMR vaccine

Infants 8 months old and above to receive MR (Measles + Rubella) vaccine.

Children should get 2 doses of MMR vaccine, usually between 12 and 18 months old and at 4 years old. 

Adults might also need MMR vaccine. Many adults 18 years of age and older might be susceptible to measles, mumps, and rubella without knowing it.

A third dose of MMR might be recommended in certain mumps out break situations. There are no known risks to getting MMR vaccine at the same time as other vaccines.

Some people should not get this vaccine 

Tell your vaccine provider if the person getting the vaccine:

•     Has any severe, life-threatening allergies. A person who has ever had a life threatening allergic reaction after a dose of MMR vaccine, or has a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, may be advised not to be vaccinated. Ask your health care provider if you want information about vaccine components

•     Is pregnant, or thinks she might be pregnant. Pregnant women should wait to get MMR vaccine until after they are no longer pregnant. Women should avoid getting pregnant for at least 3 months after getting MMR vaccine

•     Has a weakened immune system due to disease (such as cancer or HIV/AIDS) or medical treatments (such as radiation, immunotherapy, steroids, or chemotherapy)

•     Has a parent, brother, or sister with a history of immune system problems

•     Has ever had a condition that makes them bruise or bleed easily

•     Has recently had a blood transfusion or received other blood products. You might be advised to postpone MMR vaccination for 3 months or more

•     Has tuberculosis

•     Has gotten any other vaccines in the past 4 weeks. Live vaccines given too close together might not work as well

•     Is not feeling well. A mild illness, such as a cold, is usually not a reason to postpone a vaccination. Someone who is moderately or severely ill should probably wait. Your doctor can advise you

Risks of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of reactions. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible. Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps, or rubella disease. Most people who get MMR vaccine do not have any problems with it.

After vaccination, please stay in clinic observation area for 30 minutes.

After MMR vaccination, a person might experience:

Minor events

•     Sore arm from the injection

•     Fever

•     Redness or rash at the injection site

•     Swelling of glands in the cheeks or neck

If these events happen, they usually begin within 2 weeks after the shot. They occur less often after the second dose.

Moderate events

•     Seizure (jerking or staring) often associated with fever

•     Temporary pain and stiffness in the joints, mostly in teenage or adult women

•     Temporary low platelet count, which can cause unusual bleeding or bruising

•     Rash all over body

Severe events occur very rarely

•     Deafness

•     Long-term seizures, coma, or lowered consciousness

•     Brain damage

Other things that could happen after this vaccine

•     People sometimes faint after medical procedures, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your provider if you feel dizzy or have vision changes or ringing in the ears

•     Some people get shoulder pain that can be more severe and longer-lasting than routine soreness that can follow injections. This happens very rarely

•     Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions to a vaccine are estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance ofa vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can includehives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should Ido?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 120 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

•     Jiahui Health

Contact number: 400-868-3000

•     Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Contact number: 021-62758710

Why get vaccinated?

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by a type of bacteria called Neisseria meningitidis. It can lead to meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord) and infections of the blood. Meningococcal disease often occurs without warning—even among people who are otherwise healthy. Meningococcal disease can spread from person to person through close contact(coughing or kissing) or lengthy contact, especially among people living in the same household.

There are at least 12 types of N. meningitidis, called “serogroups.” Serogroups A, B, C, W, and Y cause most meningococcal disease.Anyone can get meningococcal disease but certain people are at increased risk, including:

•     Infants younger than one year old

•     Adolescents and young adults 16 through 23 years old

•     People with certain medical conditions that affect the immune system

•     Microbiologists who routinely work with isolate sofN. meningitidis

•     People at risk because of an outbreak in their community

Even when it is treated, meningococcal disease kills 10 to 15 infected people out of 100. And of those who survive, about 10 to 20 out of every 100 will suffer disabilities such as hearing loss, brain damage, kidney damage, amputations, nervous system problems, or severe scars from skin grafts.

Meningococcal ACWY vaccines can help prevent meningococcal disease caused by serogroups A, C, W, and Y. 

Meningococcal ACWY vaccines

China has three kinds of meningococcal vaccines licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for protection against serogroups: Meningococcal A, Meningococcal A+C and Meningococcal A+C+Y+W135; with different production technology either polysaccharide vaccine or conjugate vaccine.

Why get vaccinated?

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a serious infection caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus.

•     It occurs mainly in rural parts of Asia

•     It is spread through the bite of an infected mosquito. It does not spread from person to person

•     Risk is very low for most travelers. It is higher for people living in areaswhere the disease is common, or for people traveling there for long periods of time

•     Most people infected with JE virus don't have any symptoms. Others might have symptoms as mild as a fever and headache, or as serious as encephalitis (brain infection)

•     A person with encephalitis can experience fever, neck stiffness, seizures, and coma. About 1 person in4 with encephalitis dies. Up to half of those who don't die have permanent disability

•     It is believed that infection in a pregnant woman could harm her unborn baby

JE vaccine can help protect travelers from JE disease.

JE vaccine

Japanese encephalitis vaccine is approved for people 8 months of age and older. It is recommended for travelers to Asia who:

•     Plan to spend at least a month in areas where JE occurs

•     Plan to travel for less than a month, but will visit rural areas and spend a lot of time outdoors

•     Travel to areas where there is a JE outbreak

•     Are not sure of their travel plans

The vaccine is given as 4-dose series. Primary immunization consists 2 doses, with interval of 7 days. Booster dose (3^rd dose) at 1 month to 1 year after 2^nd dose. Depending on risk of exposure, another booster dose at 3 to 4 years later. The second dose should be given at least a week before travel. 

The best way to prevent JE is to avoid mosquito bites. 

Some people should not get this vaccine

Anyone who has had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a dose of JE vaccine should not get another dose.Anyone who has a severe (life threatening) allergy to any component of JE vaccine should not get the vaccine. 

Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies that you know of.

Pregnant women should usually not get JE vaccine. If you are pregnant, check with your doctor. If you will be traveling for fewer than 30 days, especially if you will be staying in urban areas, tell your doctor. You might not need the vaccine.

Risks of a vaccine reaction

With a vaccine, like any medicine, there is a chance of side effects. When side effects happen, they are usually mild and go away on their own.

After vaccination, please stay in clinic observation area for 30 minutes.

•     Pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given (about 1 person in 4)

•     Fever (mainly in children)

•     Headache, muscle aches (mainly in adults)

Moderate or severe problems

Studies have shown that severe reactions to JE vaccine are very rare.

•     Brief fainting spells can happen after any medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears

•     Lasting shoulder pain and reduced range of motion in the arm where the shot was given can happen, very rarely, after a vaccination

•     Severe allergic reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at less than 1 in a million doses. If one were to occur, it would usually be within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 120 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

•    Jiahui Health

Contact number: 400-868-3000

•    Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Contact number: 021-62758710

Why get vaccinated?

Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease that spreads around world. Flu is caused by influenza viruses, and is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Anyone can get flu. Flu strikes suddenly and can last several days. Symptoms vary by age, but can include:

•    Fever/chills

•    Sorethroat

•    Muscleaches

•    Fatigue

•    Cough

•    Headache

•    Runny or stuffynose

Flu can also lead to pneumonia and blood infections, and cause diarrhea and seizures in children. If you have a medical condition, such as heart or lung disease, flu can make it worse.

Flu is more dangerous for some people. Infants and young children, people 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions or a weakened immune system are at greatest risk.

Flu vaccine can:

•    Keep you from getting flu

•    Make flu less severe if you do get it

•    Keep you from spreading flu to your family and other people

Inactivated and recombinant flu vaccines

A dose of flu vaccine is recommended every flu season. Children 6 months through 3 years of age may need two doses during the same flu season. 2 doses of vaccine with interval of 4 weeks. Everyone else needs only one dose each flu season. There is no live flu virus in flu shots. They cannot cause the flu.

There are many flu viruses, and they are always changing. Each year a new flu vaccine is made to protect against three or four viruses that are likely to cause disease in the upcoming flu season. But even when the vaccine doesn't exactly match these viruses, it may still provide some protection.

Flu vaccine cannot prevent:

•    Flu that is caused by a virus not covered by the vaccine

•    Illnesses that look like flu but are not

It takes about 2 weeks for protection to develop after vaccination, and protection lasts through the flu season. 

Some people should not get this vaccine 

Tell the person who is giving you the vaccine:

•    If you have any severe, life-threatening allergies.If you ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction after a dose of flu vaccine, or have a severe allergy to any part of this vaccine, you may be advised not to get vaccinated. Most, but not all, types of flu vaccine contain a small amount of egg protein

•    If you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome (also called GBS). Some people with a history of GBS should not get this vaccine. This should be discussed with your doctor

•    If you are not feeling well. It is usually okay to get flu vaccine when you have a mild illness, but you might be asked to come back when you feel better

Risks of a vaccine reaction

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of reactions. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible. Most people who get a flu shot do not have any problems with it.

After vaccination, please stay in clinic observation area for 30 minutes.

Minor problems following a flu shot include

•    Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given

•    Hoarseness

•    Sore, red or itchy eyes

•    Cough

•    Fever

•    Aches

•    Headache

•    Itching

•    Fatigue

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1 or 2 days.

More serious problems following a flu shot can include the following

•    There may be a small increased risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome after inactivated flu vaccine. This risk has been estimated at 1 or 2 additional cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe complications from flu, which can be prevented by flu vaccine

•    Young children who get the flu shot along with pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13) and/or DTaP vaccine at the same time might be slightly more likely to have a seizure caused by fever. Ask your doctor for more information. Tell your doctor if a child who is getting flu vaccine has ever had a seizure

Problems that could happen after any injected vaccine

•    People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting, and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears

•    Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This happens very rarely

•    Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination

As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a serious injury or death.

What if there is a serious reaction?

What should I look for?

Look for anything that concerns you, such as signs of a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes. Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include hives, swelling of the face and throat, difficulty breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, and weakness. These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What should I do?

If you think it is a severe allergic reaction or other emergency that can't wait, call 120 or get the person to the nearest hospital. Otherwise, call your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

•    Jiahui Health

Contact number: 400-868-3000

•    Shanghai Municipal Center for Disease Control & Prevention 

Contact number: 021-62758710