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Influenza
Vaccine Q&A
What is Influenza?
Influenza (commonly known as "the flu") is a serious, acute
respiratory illness that is caused by a virus. People who get
influenza may have a fever, chills, cough, runny eyes, stuffy nose,
sore throat, headache, muscle aches, extreme weakness and fatigue.
Note: the elderly may not have a fever. Children can also have
earaches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The cough and fatigue can
persist for several weeks, making the return to full personal and
work activities difficult.
People of any age can get the flu. Illness due to influenza usually
lasts two to seven days; sometimes longer in the elderly and in
people with chronic diseases. Most people who get influenza are ill
for only a few days. However, some people can become very ill,
possibly developing complications and requiring hospitalization.
Influenza spreads by respiratory droplets in infected persons
through coughing, sneezing or talking. It is also spread through
direct contact with surfaces contaminated by the influenza virus,
such as toys, eating utensils, and unwashed hands.
How well does influenza vaccine protect against the flu?
When there is a good match between the vaccine influenza strains
and circulating influenza strains, the vaccine is about 70 to 90 per
cent effective in preventing influenza infection in healthy adults.
In children, it is about 77 to 91 per cent effective against
influenza respiratory infection. In elderly people, the vaccine can
prevent pneumonia and hospitalization in about 60 per cent, and
prevent death in about 80 per cent.
Protection from the vaccine develops by about two weeks after
receiving it, and may last up to one year. People who receive the
vaccine can still get influenza, but if they do, it is usually
milder. However, the vaccine will not protect against colds and
other respiratory illnesses that may be mistaken for influenza.
Can the influenza vaccine cause the flu?
No. The vaccine does not contain live virus so you cannot get the
flu from the vaccine.
When should the influenza vaccine be given?
It is best to receive the influenza vaccine in October to
mid-November before the flu season starts. This will give your body
time to build protection against the influenza virus. It takes about
two weeks after the vaccination to develop protection against
influenza.
How many doses of the vaccine do I need?
Because the influenza virus changes often, it is necessary to get
the flu shot every year, for protection against the virus strains
that may be circulating that year.
Children younger than nine years of age, being vaccinated for flu
for the first time, need two doses given at least one month apart.
The second dose of influenza vaccine is not needed if the child has
received one or more doses of vaccine during a previous influenza
season.
Do I have to pay for the flu shot?
No. For the 2010/2011 season, the influenza vaccine is available
free of charge to individuals aged 6 months or older who live, work
or attend school in Ontario.
How can I keep track of my flu shots and other immunization?
After you receive your vaccination, ensure that the doctor or nurse
updates your personal immunization record. Keep it in a safe place!
Why should healthy adults and children get the flu vaccine?
Healthy people should get vaccinated to protect themselves and their
families from influenza and to avoid missing quality time (including
holidays) with their families, to avoid losing time from work, and
to avoid spreading the virus to others.
Influenza is much worse than a cold. Even healthy, young people can
become quite ill. You might bring the influenza virus home to a
baby, older relative, or someone with a medical condition who could
develop serious complications from influenza.
Children can also benefit from influenza vaccination. Influenza in
preschoolers is associated with acute middle ear infections.
Influenza may also lead to hospitalization in healthy children
(particularly those under two years of age) as well as in children
with underlying high-risk medical conditions. Children are also the
main spreaders of the virus, in both the school and household
settings. Influenza vaccination can help to decrease the incidence
of middle ear infections associated with influenza, reduce school
absenteeism and help to prevent community transmission of influenza.
What are the risks from influenza vaccine?
The influenza vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing side
effects, which can be either mild or, in few cases, severe. The risk
of the vaccine causing serious harm is extremely small. Almost all
people who get the flu vaccine have no serious problems.
Most people who get the vaccine have either no side effects or mild
side effects such as soreness, redness or swelling at the injection
site. Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare. If they do
occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccine.
When should I seek medical attention?
You should seek medical attention if you believe you or someone in
your care has had a reaction to a vaccine.
Who should get the flu vaccine?
- Persons at risk for influenza-related complications:
- Healthy children aged 6-23 months.
- People 65 years of age or over.
- Adults and children with chronic cardiac or pulmonary disorders
(including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, and asthma)
severe enough to require regular medical follow-up or hospital care.
- Adults and children who have any condition that can compromise
respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or
that can increase the risk of aspiration.
- People of any age who are residents of nursing homes or other
chronic care facilities.
- Adults and children with chronic conditions such as diabetes
mellitus and other metabolic diseases, cancer, immunodeficiency,
immunosuppression (due to underlying disease and/or therapy), renal
disease, anemia and hemoglobinopathy.
- Children and adolescents (aged 6 months to 18 years) with
conditions treated for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid.
- People at high risk of influenza complications (as outline as
above) embarking on travel to destinations where influenza is likely
to be circulating.
- Persons capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk
for influenza-related complications:
- Health care providers who work in facilities and community
settings, such as physicians, nurses and emergency response workers.
- Health care and other service providers who have contact with
residents of continuing care facilities or residences.
- Those who provide home care for persons in high-risk groups.
- Those who provide services within closed or relatively closed
settings to persons at high risk (e.g. crew on ships).
- Household contacts (adults and children) of people at high risk of
influenza complications. This includes household contacts of: 1)
children < 6 months of age, who are at high risk of complications
from influenza but for whom there is no currently licensed vaccine,
and 2) children aged 6 to 23 months whether or not they have been
immunized. Pregnant women in their third trimester should be
vaccinated if they are expected to deliver during influenza season,
as they will become household contacts of their newborn.
- Those providing regular child care to children aged 0 to 23
months, whether in or out of the home.
- People who provide essential community services.
- People in direct contact with poultry infected with avian
influenza during culling operations.
- General Population: Individuals aged 2 to 64 should be encouraged
to receive the vaccine even if they are not in one of the above
mentioned priority groups.
Who should not get the influenza vaccine?
The following persons should not get the influenza vaccine:
Infants under six months of age (the current vaccine is not
recommended for this age group).
- Anyone with a serious allergy (anaphylaxis) to eggs or egg
products. A serious allergic reaction usually means that the person
develops hives, swelling of the mouth and throat or has trouble
breathing after eating eggs or egg products.
- Anyone who has a severe allergy to any component of the vaccine.
(Please see product monographs.)
- Anyone who had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of
the influenza vaccine.
Also:
- Anyone who has developed GBS within 6 to 8 weeks of a previous
influenza vaccination.
- Anyone who is acutely ill with a fever should usually wait until
the fever goes down before being vaccinated.
- Vaccination should be delayed in individuals with active
neurologic disorders, but should be considered when the disease
process has been stabilized. (Please see product monographs.)
Anyone with an acute respiratory infection or any other active
infection (please see Fluviral® product monograph.)
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