Flu Safety Tips

Key Facts about Seasonal Flu Vaccine - the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. 

Information provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

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.

There are three different flu shots available:

- a regular flu shot approved for people ages 6 months and older

- a high dose flu shot approved for people 65 and older

- an intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 to 64 years of age

The nasal spray flu vaccine - a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that is given as a nasal spray. The viruses in the nasal spray vaccine do not cause the flu. LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant. 

Seasonal flu vaccines protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The viruses in the vaccine can 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 the influenza viruses in the vaccine develop in the body. Information specific to the 2011-2012 season, including the vaccine formulation, can be found 2011-2012 Flu Season. 

When To Get Vaccinated:

CDC recommends that people get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as vaccine becomes available in their community. Vaccination before December is best since this timing ensures that protective antibodies are in place before flu activity is typically at its highest. CDC continues to encourage people to get vaccinated throughout the flu season., which can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Over the course of the flu season, many different influenza viruses can circulate at different times and in different places. AS long as flu viruses are still spreading in the community, vaccination can provide protective benefit. 

Where To Get Vaccinated:

Flu vaccine shipments began in August and will continue throughout September and October until all vaccine is distributed. Doctors and nurses are encouraged to begin vaccinating their patients as soon as flu vaccine is available in their area, even as early as August.  See your doctor or nurse to get the flu vaccine, or seek out other locations where the vaccine is being offered.

Who Should Get Vaccinated

While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it's especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:

1. Pregnant Women

2. Children Younger than 5, especially younger than 2 years old

3. People 50 years of age and older

4. People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

5. People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

6. People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:

   - Health care workers

   - Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu

   - Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age

Who Should Not Get Vaccinated

There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first consulting a physician. These include:

1. People who have severe allergy to chicken eggs.

2. People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.

3. People who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)

4. Children younger than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group)

5. People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever (they should wait to recover before getting vaccinated)