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Summer’s over and fall is in the air. It’s time to start thinking about your annual influenza vaccine, and about what you can do to keep yourself and your friends and family healthy this coming flu season.
Flu is nothing to sneeze about
Influenza is not something to take lightly. It can be very serious for some people, including the elderly, children and those with chronic conditions. And even if you don’t get seriously ill, having the flu can put a dent in your normal activities, causing you to feel poorly and miss work or school.
Last year, 34 million people were infected with influenza in the United States, says Timothy Friel, MD, an infectious diseases specialist and chair of the Lehigh Valley Health Network Department of Medicine.
“While the flu’s severity is highest in the very young and elderly, patients with impaired immune systems and those with underlying medical problems such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, kidney disease and chronic lung disease also are at high risk for bad outcomes.” - Timothy Friel, MD
“Vaccination remains our best strategy to reduce the likelihood of infection and, for those who do become infected, decrease the severity of illness and likelihood of hospitalization.” Dr. Friel says.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the flu vaccine by the end of October for everyone 6 months or older.
“While the flu’s severity is highest in the very young and elderly, patients with impaired immune systems and those with underlying medical problems such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, kidney disease and chronic lung disease also are at high risk for bad outcomes,” he says.
Sometimes people who are otherwise healthy don’t think they need the flu vaccine, Dr. Friel says. However, anyone can get the flu, and once they have it, they can infect others in their households and communities. Even otherwise healthy individuals can end up with serious complications from influenza.
Here’s what you need to know about the flu:
How can I avoid the flu?
The No. 1 one way is to get the flu vaccine every year. Getting the flu vaccine can:
- Keep you from getting sick with the flu
- Reduce the severity of flu if you are infected
- Protect those around you, including babies, young children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases
Besides my annual vaccine, what else can I do to combat the flu?
- Stay away from people who have the flu
- If you are sick, stay home for at least 24 hours after the resolution of your fever and improvement in your other symptoms
- Wash your hands
- Avoid touching your eyes and mouth
- Clean surfaces such as countertops and doorknobs
- Get plenty of sleep, eat well and drink lots of fluids
When should I be vaccinated?
The best time is by the end of October. However, we continue to encourage vaccination throughout the entire winter season. It’s wise to get the vaccination even before you start hearing about cases of the flu in your community, because it takes a couple of weeks after your vaccination to build up immunity to the flu.
Why do I need the vaccine every year?
Your immunity fades over time, so it needs to be refreshed before every flu season. Also, strains of the flu change, and vaccines are updated to combat new strains that are expected.
What strains of the flu will vaccines protect against this year?
This year’s vaccines are trivalent, meaning they are made to protect against three expected flu viruses: an A(H1N1) virus, an A(H3N2) virus and a B/Victoria virus.
How does the flu vaccine work?
Seasonal flu vaccines cause your body to develop antibodies that protect you against the expected flu viruses each year.
Can I get the flu from the vaccine?
No. Viruses in the flu shot are dead, so they can’t give you the flu. And if you get the nasal spray vaccine, those viruses are weakened and do not cause the flu.
What are the possible side effects from a flu vaccine?
Complications from the vaccine are very uncommon. If you have a complication, it will start soon after your vaccine and will usually be mild and not last long. Common complications for the flu shot could include mild headache, fever, muscle aches, nausea, fatigue, and redness, soreness and swelling at the injection site. For the nasal spray vaccine, patients might have runny nose, wheezing, cough, headache, vomiting, muscle aches and low-grade fever.
Where can I get a flu shot?
You can call your primary care clinician to schedule your flu vaccination or visit any ExpressCARE location without an appointment. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) also operates yearly drive-thru and walk-in flu shot clinics.
