( SOURCE;- Internate health tips )
Why should people get
vaccinated against the flu?
Influenza, or the flu as
it is more commonly known, is a viral illness. Symptoms vary from mild to
severe. Symptoms may be severe enough to require hospitalization or even cause
death when affecting people who are already frail. The severity of the flu differs
from year to year. Healthy people can become sickened by the flu and transmit
it to others. But young children, elderly individuals, and people with certain
medical conditions are at greater risk of suffering serious complications from
it.
The best way to reduce
the risk of catching the flu and spreading it to others is to receive an annual
flu vaccine. Vaccines are available either as an injection or a nasal spray.
The more people who get the flu vaccine in a community, the less the illness
spreads.
How do flu vaccines work?
Injection
of the flu vaccine stimulates the production of antibodies, proteins that
provide immune defense against the illness. It takes the body about 2 weeks to
generate antibodies after receiving the flu vaccine.
Every
year the flu vaccine is tailor made against the particular strains of the flu
that are circulating. The trivalent flu vaccine protects against two types of
influenza A -- H1N1 and H3N2 -- and one type of influenza B. Quadrivalent
vaccines protect against the three types of flu viruses accounted for in the
trivalent vaccine plus another strain of influenza B.
Who should get vaccinated?
People
who work with or around children or sick individuals should strongly consider
getting annual flu vaccinations to help protect themselves and vulnerable
populations. Different types of flu vaccines are appropriate for different
groups of people. For example, a patient’s age, allergy status, and presence
(or absence) of an egg allergy should all be taken into account when deciding what
type of flu vaccine is appropriate.
Individuals
between the ages of 2 and 49 who may not want the standard, injectable flu
vaccine may opt for the nasal spray vaccine provided that they are not taking
medications which contraindicate it.
When should I get vaccinated?
Ideally,
it is best to receive the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available at the
start of flu season. Flu outbreaks may begin as early as October and typically
peak in January or later. It is appropriate to get the vaccine as long as the
flu is circulating. Receiving the flu vaccine as early as possible or just
prior to the beginning of flu season works best to help protect individuals and
the community against influenza.
Where can I get a flu vaccine?
Flu
vaccines are widely available in pharmacies, urgent care centers, clinics,
doctor’s offices, and university health centers. Some employers and schools
even offer flu vaccines onsite. You do not need to be under the regular care of
a doctor or nurse to get a flu vaccine.
Can I get seasonal flu even though I got a flu vaccine this year?
Yes.
It is possible to get the flu even though one has gotten the flu vaccine. A
variety of factors determine whether or not someone will get the flu even
though he or she has been vaccinated. The age and health status of a person
affect vaccine effectiveness. Every year, public health officials predict which
strains of the flu will be circulating and they manufacture the vaccine to best
protect against the anticipated strains. However, the strains that circulate do
not always perfectly match the strains accounted for in the vaccine. Vaccine
effectiveness is highest when the strains in the vaccination closely match the
strains that are causing illness. Even though the flu vaccine might not be a
perfect match, it will stimulate the production of antibodies which will confer
some protection against the circulating strains via a process called
cross-protection. These antibodies will be enough to protect some people from
getting the flu and will help protect others against dangerous complications of
the flu.
What are the benefits of
flu vaccination?
·
The flu vaccine helps
protect you and those around you from getting the flu.
·
The flu vaccine helps
protect vulnerable populations in the community -- infants, young children,
elderly adults, and those with chronic health conditions -- against getting the
flu and suffering from potentially serious complications.
·
The flu vaccine will
lessen “the blow” of the illness if you do catch influenza.
·
The flu vaccine helps
protect against hospitalization and other potentially serious complications of
influenza.
Can the flu vaccine give me the flu?
No.
It is not possible to get influenza from the flu vaccine. Injectable flu
vaccines contain either inactivated viruses or no viruses so, neither one is
capable of making people sick. The nasal spray flu vaccine does contain live,
weakened (attenuated) viruses. It also cannot make people sick with the flu.
The viruses used in the nasal vaccine are cold-adapted, meaning they are
designed to only infect cooler environments, such as within the nose. The
viruses in the nasal vaccine are incapable of infecting warmer body areas, such
as the lungs.
Are there side effects?
The
flu shot containing killed (inactivated) viruses may cause minor side effects
including redness, swelling, and soreness at the site of the injection, a
low-grade fever, and body aches.
The
nasal spray flu vaccine containing live, weakened (attenuated) viruses may
cause side effects in children including muscle pain, fever, wheezing, nasal
discharge, headache, and vomiting.
Are there some people who should
not receive a flu vaccine?
The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone, age 6 months and older,
be vaccinated annually against the flu.
Individuals who should
not get the flu shot include:
·
Infants under the age of
6 months old who are too young to receive a flu shot.
·
People who have severe,
anaphylaxis-type allergies to the flu shot or any ingredients contained within
the vaccine
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