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Health |
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Flu season is
upon us. The best source of information about the
flu is your family doctor or other health care
provider. Here is some general information on the
flu from the US Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
Preventing the Flu
September 23,
2005
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/preventing.htm
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get
vaccinated each fall, but good health habits and
antiviral medications are other measures that can
help protect against the flu.
Good Health Habits
Good health habits are also an important way
to help prevent the Flu.
* Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
When you are sick, keep your distance from others to
protect them from getting sick too.
* Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and
errands when you are sick. You will help prevent
others from catching your illness.
* Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around
you from getting sick.
* Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you
from germs.
* Avoid touching your eyes, nose
or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches
something that is contaminated with germs and then
touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
September 28,
2005
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
There are two types of vaccines:
* The "flu shot"-an
inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that
is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu
shot is approved for use in people older than 6
months, including healthy people and people with
chronic medical conditions.
* The nasal-spray flu vaccine-a
vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do
not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for
"Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine"). LAIV is
approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49
years of age who are not pregnant.
Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A
(H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus.
The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on
international surveillance and scientists'
estimations about which types and strains of viruses
will circulate in a given year.
About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that
provide protection against influenza virus infection
develop in the body.
When to Get Vaccinated
October or November is the best time to get
vaccinated, but you can still get vaccinated in
December and later. Flu season can begin as early as
October and last as late as May.
Who Should Get Vaccinated
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their
chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated.
However, certain people should get vaccinated each
year. They are either people who are at high risk of
having serious flu complications or people who live
with or care for those at high risk for serious
complications.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
1.) People at high risk for complications from
the flu:
* People 65 years and older;
* People who live in nursing homes
and other long-term care facilities that house those
with long-term illnesses;
* Adults and children 6 months
and older with chronic heart or lung conditions,
including asthma;
* Adults
and children 6 months and older who needed regular
medical care or were in a hospital during the
previous year because of a metabolic disease (like
diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened
immune system (including immune system problems
caused by medicines or by infection with human
immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]);
* Children 6 months to 18 years of
age who are on long-term aspirin therapy. (Children
given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk
of Reye syndrome.);
* Women who will be pregnant during
the influenza season;
* All children 6 to 23
months of age;
* People with any condition that can
compromise respiratory function or the handling of
respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that
makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain
injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure
disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders.)
2.) People 50 to 64 years of age. Because
nearly one-third of people 50 to 64 years of age in
the United States have one or more medical
conditions that place them at increased risk for
serious flu complications, vaccination is
recommended for all persons aged 50 - 64 years.
3.) People who can transmit flu to others at high
risk for complications. Any person in close
contact with someone in a high-risk group (see
above) should get vaccinated. This includes all
health-care workers, household contacts and
out-of-home caregivers of children 0 to 23 months of
age, and close contacts of people 65 years and
older.
Is CDC recommending that flu shots go to
"priority groups", as was recommended last season?
To ensure that those who are at highest risk of
complications from influenza have access to vaccine
this season, CDC recommends that people in certain
priority groups receive inactivated influenza
vaccine (i.e., the "flu shot") until October 24,
2005:
* people aged 65 years and older,
with and without chronic health conditions
* residents of long-term care
facilities
* people aged 2-64 years with
chronic health conditions
* children aged 6-23 months
* pregnant women
* health-care personnel who provide
direct patient care
* household contacts and out-of-home
caregivers of children less than 6 months of age
Beginning October 24, 2005, all persons can get a
flu shot.
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
It
should be noted that vaccination with the
nasal-spray flu vaccine is always an option for
healthy persons aged 5-49 years who are not
pregnant. This vaccine is not subject to
prioritization and can be given to healthy 5-49 year
olds at any time.
People Displaced by Hurricane Katrina
Influenza vaccination is recommended for all
people 6 months of age and older who have been
displaced by hurricane Katrina and are living in
crowded group settings. See http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/katrina/vaccrecdisplaced.asp
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
There are some people who should not be
vaccinated without first consulting a physician.
These include:
* People who have a severe allergy to
chicken eggs.
* People who have had a severe
reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
* People who developed
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of
getting an influenza vaccine previously.
* Influenza vaccine is not approved
for use in children less than 6 months of age.
* People who have a moderate or
severe illness with a fever should wait to get
vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
Vaccine Effectiveness
The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person
depends on the age and health status of the person
getting the vaccine, and the similarity or "match"
between the virus strains in the vaccine and those
in circulation. Testing has shown that both the flu
shot and the nasal-spray vaccine are effective at
preventing the flu.
Vaccine Side Effects (What to Expect)
Different side effects can be associated with
the flu shot and LAIV.
The flu shot: The viruses in the flu shot are
killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from
a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur
are:
* Soreness,
redness, or swelling where the shot was given
* Fever (low grade)
* Aches
If these problems occur, they begin soon after the
shot and usually last 1 to 2 days. Almost all people
who receive influenza vaccine have no serious
problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu
vaccination can cause serious problems, such as
severe allergic reactions. As of July 1, 2005,
people who think that they have been injured by the
flu shot can file a claim for compensation from the
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
For more information go to http://www.hrsa.gov/osp/vicp/.
LAIV: The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine
are weakened and do not cause severe symptoms often
associated with influenza illness. (In clinical
studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close
contacts has occurred only rarely.)
In children, side effects from LAIV can include
* runny nose
* headache
*
vomiting
* muscle aches
* fever
In adults, side effects from LAIV can include:
* runny nose
* headache
* sore throat
* cough
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