WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT FLU VACCINE


1.  Why get vaccinated?

Flu is a contagious disease.  It is caused by the influenza virus which can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions.  Anyone can get flu but rates of infection are highest among children.  For most people, symptoms last only a few days.  The include:

Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken for flu.  

Infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions — such as heart, lung or kidney disease or a weakened immune system — can get much sicker.   Flu can cause high fever and pneumonia, and make existing medical conditions worse.   It can cause diarrhea and seizures in children.  Each year thousands of people die from seasonal flu and even more require hospitalization.

By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself from flu and may also avoid spreading flu to others.

2.  Inactivated Flu Vaccine

There are two types of flu vaccine.

Inactivated (killed) vaccine, or the “flu shot” is given by injection into the muscle.

Live, attenuated (weakened) flue vaccine is sprayed into the nostrils.  

A “high-dose” inactivated flu vaccine is available for people 65 years of age and older.   Ask your healthcare provider for more information.

Flu viruses are always changing, so annual vaccination is recommended.  Each year scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to those most likely to cause flu that year.

The 2010-2011 vaccine provides protection against A/H1N1 (pandemic) flu and two other flu viruses — A/H3N2 and Influenza B.  It will not prevent illnesses caused by other viruses.

It takes up to 2 weeks for protection to develop after the shot.  Protection lasts about a year.

Some inactivated flu vaccine contains a preservative called thimerosal.   Thimerosal-free flu vaccine is available.  Ask your healthcare provider for more information.

3.  Who should get inactivated flu vaccine and when?

All people 6 months of age and older should get flu vaccine.  Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe flu and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel and close contacts of children younger than 6 months.

Poeple who got the 2009 H1N1 (pandemic) flu vaccine, or had pandemic flu in 2009 should still get the 2010-2011 seasonal flu vaccine.

WHEN

Getting the vaccine as soon as it is available will provide protection if the flu season comes early.   You can get the vaccine as long as illness is occurring in your community.

Flu can occur at any time, but most flu occurs from November through May.   In recent seasons, most infections have occurred in January and February.  Getting vaccinated in December, or even later, will still be beneficial in most years.

Adults and older children need one dose of flu vaccine each year.  But some children younger than 9 years of age need two doses to be protected.  Ask your healthcare provider.

Flu vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine.

NOTE:  TELL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IF YOU HAVE ANY SEVERE (LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES.  Allergic reations to flu vaccine are rare.  Some people should not get inactivated flu vaccine or should wait.

4.  What are the risks form inactivated influenza vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reations.  The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.

Serious problems from inactivated influenza vaccine are very rare.   The viruses in inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get influenza from the vaccine.

Mild problems:

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

Severe problems:

The safety of vaccines is always being monitored.  For more information visit:

www. cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Vaccine_Monitoring/Index.html

www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Activities/Activities_Index.html

4.  What if there is a severe reaction?

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

Any unusual condition, such as high fever or behavior changes.  Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

5.  How can I learn more?

 Please Note:  This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice.  If you have questions regarding the Influenza vaccine, possible side effect, etc., you should contact your healthcare provider directly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE


Genesis Medical Associates, Inc., is pleased to annouce that flu shots are available at the following practices (Practices are in alphabetical order so please scroll down to locate your physician office): 

Behm Family Practice    (Have all flu vaccines from pediatric to high dose for age 65+)

Bentz, Grob & Scheri Family Practice — Are now giving flu shots to current patients.   They have a variety of flu shot clinics at both their Perrysville and Bradford Road locations.   Call the office for information on what is available.

Heck & Polinski (Westview & Troy Hill Offices) — Shots are available during hours of operation.  Walk-ins welcome.

Heyl Family Practice – will begin giving flu shots starting on September 28

Koman & Kimmell Family Practice 

Northern Area Family Medicine   Walk-In Clinics begin Tuesday, September 28

Schogel & Fardo Family Medicine  – will begin giving flu shots on September 22.  Please call for an appointment.

Singh & Dayalan Medical Practice   

Zillweger Medical Practice




THE FLU AND YOU — COMMON SENSE WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF


Do you know that some simple lifestyle changes can protect you against the flu? The recommendations listed below are easy to follow and will help protect you now that the flu season is here.

1. Get vaccinated. Please contact your family practice physician and make arrangements to be inoculated. This vaccine will protect you against a number of flu strains and is your first line of defense so it’s well worth the time it takes to schedule an appointment. Experts suggest getting the standard flu vaccine by the Thanksgiving holidays; however, getting vaccinated makes sense any time during flu season, which may last from October to May.

2. Coughing & Sneezing. Remember when your mom reminded you to cover your mouth when you coughed and sneezed? This advice is time-tested and invaluable. Use a disposable tissue if you have one to cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t, use the inside of your elbow instead of simply coughing or sneezing into your bare hands which will then spread the germs onto everything you touch.

3. Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. The influenza virus can live for several hours on hard surfaces — things you touch daily. You can protect yourself by not touching your eyes, nose or mouth and transferring the virus to yourself. Wash your hands often. Remember that one of the most common ways people catch colds and the flu is by rubbing their nose or their eyes after their hands have been contaminated with a virus.

4. Stay home. Avoid close contact with people when you are sick. Don’t go to school or work, etc., if you are sick with the flu.

It isn’t easy to always tell when people are sick and some people are contagious even before they start to have symptoms, so don’t expose your younger kids to large crowds of people if you don’t have to.

5. Wash your hands often. Encourage your children to wash hands before they eat, after they’s used the bathroom, after playing with animals; and after they come in from school and from playing. Set a good example for them by doing this yourself. If you are preparing food be sure to wash before, during and after you prepare the food.

Keep antibacterial soaps handy for when you are out and don’t have easy access to soap and water. Everyday items such as door handles, faucets, restuarant counters, drinking fountains etc., can be harboring the flu virus.

6. Clean your house. Routinely clean with soap and water, and disinfect surfaces, toys, and objects that younger children may put in their mouths. It may also help to wipe surfaces with paper towels that can be thrown away or cloth towels that can be washed afterwards.

7. Don’t smoke. The nose and airways contains tiny hair-like cells called cilia. Smoking paralyzes the cilia and prevents them from protecting you against germs.

8. Reduce alcohol consumption. Do you know that chronic drinkers suffer from more colds and flu because their immune system can be more easily compromised? Have a hot cup of black tea instead.

9. Practice healthy habits. Be sure and get 7-9 hours of rest each night. Eat healthy foods and drink lots of fluids. Also be sure to exercise on a regular basis – it helps to reduce stress that compromises the immune system.

The above are all practice suggestions for reducing your risk of flu and the best part is that many of these should already be a regular routine in your life.

Keep healthy this flu season by following common sense practices.

Please Note:  This article is not intended to provide medical advice but is for patient education purposes only.