PeopleCare
Flu Shots & H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccines
What is the flu?
The flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus. The swine flu is a new strain of influenza virus.What are the symptoms?
Fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, fatigue, muscle aches.What are the complications of the flu?
- Bacterial Pneumonia
- Ear infections
- Sinus infections
- Dehydration
- Worsening of chronic medical conditions like congestive heart failure, diabetes or asthma
Why get a flu shot/vaccine?
Every year in the U.S., on average 5%-20% of the population gets the flu and more than 20,000 people are hospitalized with flu related complications. About 36,000 people die from flu related causes. Unlike seasonal flu, most people have little or no immunity to the 2009 H1N1 flu and cannot fight off the virus.How does the flu spread?
Mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching your mouth or nose. Some viruses and bacteria can live 2 hours or longer on surfaces like tables, doorknobs, and desks.If I have the flu how long am I contagious?
You may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick.How can I avoid getting the flu?
- Get vaccinated
- Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing
- Avoid close contact with sick people
- Stay home if you are sick
- Get plenty of sleep, exercise, manage stress, drink lots of fluids, and eat nutritious foods
- If you get the flu take antiviral drugs within 48 hours of symptoms if recommended by your doctor
Can the flu shot give me the flu?
No. Most vaccines are inactivated (killed) and the live vaccine is attenuated (killed) and you cannot get the flu from the vaccine.What are the two types of vaccines?
Inactivated (killed) vaccine - administered via injection.Live, attenuated (weakened) vaccine that is sprayed into the nostrils.
Who should get the inactivated vaccine?
- Pregnant women
- People who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age
- Health care and emergency personnel
- Children under 6 months should not receive the vaccine
- People who have severe allergies or have had a severe reaction to previous flu vaccine injections should discuss the vaccine with their doctor. People who are allergic to eggs should not take the vaccine.
- People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting the vaccine
Who should get the live, attenuated nasal spray vaccine? (Swine Flu Vaccine)
It is approved for healthy people from 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant and do not have certain medical conditions. Groups recommended to receive the vaccine first are healthy people who are from 2 through 24 years of age; are from 25 through 49 years of age and live with or care for infants younger than 6 months, or are a health care or emergency medical personnel.Who should not get the live, attenuated nasal spray vaccine? (Swine Flu Vaccine)
- Children under 2 and adults over 50
- Pregnant women
- Anyone with a weakened immune system
- Anyone with long term health problems
- Children under 5 years with asthma
- Anyone with certain muscle/nerve disorders
- Anyone in close contact with a severely weakened immune system
- Children or adolescents on long term aspirin treatment
- If you are moderately or severely sick you might be advised to wait until you recover to receive the vaccine
Other Considerations
- The risks from H1N1 vaccine are expected to be the same as the seasonal vaccine
- The inactivated H1N1 vaccine can be given at the same time as the seasonal vaccine
- H1N1 Live vaccine and the Live seasonal vaccine should not be given together
- The H1N1 vaccine will not protect you from the seasonal flu
- The CDC does not expect a shortage of the H1N1 vaccine however, initially, the vaccine may be available in limited quantities
More Information on the flu...