Health News

Preparing for the 2011-2012 Flu Season

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the first and best way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community from influenza is by getting a flu shot.  You can get your yearly influenza vaccination from your health-care provider, at your local pharmacy, grocery store, senior center, place of work, or public health department.  The American Lung Association’s flu shot locator at www.lungusa.org is a great tool for finding a vaccine in your area.  Or, you can access your local health department by logging on to www.doh.wa.gov/LHJMap/LHJMap.htm.  You can also call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.

 

What is the Flu?

Influenza is a highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract affecting the nose, throat, and lungs. The flu virus spreads from person to person mainly in respiratory droplets from coughing, sneezing or by contact.  You can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and five to seven days after becoming sick.  Common flu symptoms are fever, cough, sore throat, chills, aches and fatigue.  The influenza virus can cause mild to severe illness, and in some cases can lead to death.  For example, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die each year in the US due to seasonal flu-related complications.

 

How Can I Protect Myself and Prevent the Spread of Flu?

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive the influenza vaccine.  This is the single best way to protect against the flu.  Other common flu prevention strategies include frequent hand washing with soap and water (scrub for at least 20 seconds) or use an alcohol based hand cleaner; cover the nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough; omit touching the eyes, nose and mouth; try to avoid close contact with sick people and stay home while ill for at least 24 hours after the fever is gone – without the use of fever reducing medications.   Another way to combat the flu virus is to boost the immune system and keep it strong.  Good health habits to consider are drinking plenty of fluids, getting extra sleep and rest, exercising regularly, managing stress and eating a well-balanced nutritious diet with plenty of protein.

 

Types of Flu Vaccine:

The 2011-2012 influenza vaccine is essentially the same as last year’s vaccine and will again incorporate protection from the 2009 swine flu viral strain and two other flu virus strains that continue to circulate in the population.  Even though this year’s vaccine is very similar to last year’s, the CDC strongly recommends that individuals get vaccinated every year.  This is because a flu vaccine’s level of immunity often declines over time.

There are two main forms of influenza vaccines:

  • The inactivated (killed) influenza vaccine.  This vaccine is made of dead virus and is given as an actual shot or injection. There are three inactivated influenza vaccines currently in production:
  1. The regular seasonal flu shot given as an intramuscular injection typically in the upper arm.  It is approved for everyone 6 months of age or older.
  2. A “high dose” intramuscular vaccine for people 65 years of age or older designed to provide increased protection by boosting the immune system.
  3. A new intra-dermal vaccine approved for use in adults 18 through 64 years of age.  Here, a smaller needle is used to inject the vaccine into the skin rather than the muscle.
  • The attenuated (weakened) influenza vaccine.  This vaccine is made up of a weakened live virus and is given as a nasal spray.   The nasal spray flu vaccine is only approved in healthy people 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.  The following individuals should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine:  1) Individuals less than 2 years of age.  2) People 50 years of age or older.  3) Individuals with certain chronic medical conditions.  4)  Those with weakened immune systems and 5) Pregnant women.

If you have any questions about the type of influenza vaccine that is appropriate for you, your health care provider can help you decide upon the best course of action.

 

Who Should Receive a Yearly Flu Vaccine?

The CDC’s influenza immunization recommendation is now “universal” which means that everyone 6 months and older should get a yearly flu shot.  But certain groups of people are especially encouraged to get vaccinated because they are at higher risk from flu-related complications or in regular contact with people who are at higher risk.  These groups consist of adults 50 years of age and older; children less than 5 years old; pregnant women (Note: pregnant women should get vaccinated against flu as soon as possible. The flu shot given during pregnancy has been shown to protect both the mother and her baby  up to 6 months old from flu);  people of any age who have certain chronic medical conditions and anyone with a weakened immune system;  people who live in nursing facilities and other chronic care facilities;  people who have close contact with those at high risk for flu complications or close contact with babies under 6 months of age – too young to receive the flu vaccine;  health care professionals;  and American Indians and Alaska Natives, who are more likely to get seriously ill from the flu compared to the general United States population.

 

Who Should Not Get an Influenza Vaccine?

There are specific individuals who should not receive the flu vaccine without first consulting with their health care provider.  These people include children who are less than 6 months of age, people who have an allergy to chicken eggs, people who have had a severe reaction to a past influenza vaccination, individuals who have previously developed  Guillain-Barre syndrome and people who are ill with a fever should postpone vaccination until after the fever is gone.

It is best to speak to your health care provider if you have questions or concerns about receiving the flu vaccine.

 

Other Concerns

The cost of the flu vaccine is generally covered by Medicare and Medicaid as well as by many insurance providers and by Samish Contract Health.  If you are getting a flu vaccination at a pharmacy, you can now use your Samish ID card with the NWPS sticker on the back.  However, if you are getting the flu vaccine directly from your health care provider or at a clinic, please contact Samish Contract Health Services in advance for payment approval.

This report is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified professional health-care provider.

For more information about Seasonal Influenza (Flu), please contact: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ or www.flu.gov or call 800-CDC-INFO

Mitch Markovich, RN

Samish Public Health Services

October 2011