Is The Flu Dangerous
The symptoms of the flu could range from mild to severe. If you get the flu, you may experience a sudden fever, cough, aches, and fatigue. People who are 65 years or older, those with certain health conditions , pregnant women, and young children are considered high risk and are especially vulnerable to the flu and its complications. Every year, thousands of people die in the United States due to the flu, and even more are hospitalized. Minority populations have higher rates of flu-related hospitalizations. Non-Hispanic Black people have the highest rates of flu-related hospitalizations, followed by American Indian and Alaska Native populations and Hispanic and Latino populations. Minority populations also have lower rates of flu vaccination. Flu vaccination rates for the 2019-2020 season were estimated to be 38% for Hispanic adults and 41% for non-Hispanic Black adults, compared to 53% for non-Hispanic White adults.
The Best Flu Vaccine If Youre Scared Of Needles
While most people use the terms flu vaccine and flu shot interchangeably, not all flu vaccines use a needle to deliver the ingredients.
FluMist Quadrivalent is a nasal spray vaccine. However, its not the right choice for some people. This vaccine is only FDA-approved for people between ages 2 and 49. FluMist Quadrivalent is also a live attenuated vaccine, meaning it contains weakened versions of the flu viruses instead of inactivated viruses. People who are pregnant and those with certain health problems such as a weakened immune system shouldnt receive it.
If You Get The Flu Shot Too Early Can It Wear Off Before Flu Season Is Over
There is some truth to the concept that the flu shot can lose its effectiveness over time, says Chen. In general, we dont recommend people getting the flu shot in July or August, he adds. Its a good idea to wait until the middle of September.
Given that this year there will be a greater number of susceptible people, coupled with kids going back to school, the flu could potentially peak earlier than usual, notes Klein. I wouldnt recommend waiting until late November to get the flu shot, he says.
Although some lab tests have suggested that the vaccines effectiveness might fade after six months or so, there is a lot of individual variability, says Stuart Ray, MD, an infectious disease physician at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
Plus, even if the vaccine wears off a bit, you will still have immune memory that will reawaken and contribute to protection against a severe infection, he explains.
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When Is The Best Time To Get A Flu Shot In 2021
With the official start to autumn just around the corner, signing up for a flu shot in the next few weeks of September or at your earliest convenience in October is optimal. Dr. Walensky says that health experts indicate that you should receive your shot before Halloween and the end of October. “The general idea is that people should be protected before flu begins spreading in their community,” she adds, explaining that antibodies against virulent flu need about two weeks to fully develop and provide optimal protection.
The reason that flu vaccines are available right now is to accommodate some individuals who should receive a shot earlier if they can. These groups include:
Testing And Treatment Of Respiratory Illness When Sars
While waiting on results of testing, non-hospitalized persons with acute respiratory symptoms should self-isolate at home. Even if people test negative for both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses, they should self-isolate because of the potential for false negative testing results depending upon what kind of test was done and the level of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus transmission in the community. Persons not hospitalized with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at increased risk for complications from influenza should receive antiviral treatment for influenza as soon as possible, regardless of illness duration.
For hospitalized patients, empiric oseltamivir treatment should be started as soon as possible for patients with suspected influenza without waiting for influenza testing results. Get more information on testing and treatment when SARS-CoV-2 and flu viruses are co-circulating.
CDC has developed clinical algorithms that can help guide decisions for influenza testing and treatment when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are co-circulating.
FDA-approved antiviral medications for treatment of influenza have no activity against SARS-CoV-2 viruses, nor do they interact with medications used for treatment of COVID-19 patients. If a patient who is at higher risk for influenza complications is diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus co-infection, they should receive antiviral treatment for influenza.
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Is It Important For People To Get Both A Covid
If youre wondering how the Delta variant impacts this years flu shot, Karen Edwards, PhD, MS, professor and chair of epidemiology and biostatistics at the UC Irvine School of Medicine says you should absolutely get both shots. It is important for everyone to know that they should be vaccinated for both the flu and COVID-19. The viruses that cause these illnesses are different and require different vaccinations, she says.
Many of us were wearing masks practicing good hand hygiene and social distancing, so flu cases were mild last year. As a result, it is possible that our natural immunity to flu will be lower than in most years and without a flu vaccination we may be more susceptible this year.
Therefore getting a flu shot this year may be especially important. Because COVID-19 and the flu are caused by different viruses there is also concern that we will see a twindemic of flu and COVID-19 in places where vaccination rates are low.
Wearing a mask while in public, practicing good hand hygiene, and social distancing can reduce your risk of getting both the flu and COVID-19, but getting vaccinated for both should be a high priority for everyone.
Which Flu Vaccine Is The Most Effective
When flu vaccines are being produced, the strains included are standardized by the FDA. Each 2021-2022 vaccine includes:
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Two type B viruses
This means that no matter what vaccine you choose, youre being protected against the same strains. Flu vaccines are typically between 40% and 60% effective from year to year. But when it comes to picking the right flu vaccine for you, you have to take other factors into account.
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When Should I Get A Flu Shot
It is best to get a flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading in your community, so you have begun developing influenza antibodies to protect you against contracting the flu.
The CDC recommends that you get a flu shot by the end of October, but its not too late to benefit from some level of protection even as late as January.
NOTE: COVID-19 vaccines and flu vaccines may be administered at the same visit. You may receive both vaccines safely, with no wait time in between. However, at Michigan Medicine, the two vaccines must each be scheduled.
Blood Sampling And Analysis
Blood was collected in to anti-coagulant free tubes and clotted at room temperature before centrifugation at 2000 × g for 5 min. The separated serum was frozen at 20 °C for later analysis.
2.5.1. Haemagglutination inhibition assay
Anti-influenza antibody titres were measured using an in-house haemagglutination inhibition test as described in the WHO Manual for Animal Influenza Diagnosis and Surveillance . The 20112012 influenza vaccine contained viral strains: A/California/7/2009 , A/Perth/16/2009 and B/Brisbane/60/2008 . The 20122013 influenza vaccine contained viral strains: A/California/7/2009 , A/Victoria/361/2011 and B/Wisconsin/1/2010 and the 20132014 influenza vaccine contained viral strains: A/California/7/2009 , A/Texas/50/2012 and B/Massachusetts/2/2012 . Details of this assay method have been described elsewhere .
2.5.2. Cytokine assay
Multiplex technology was used to assay serum cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 in duplicate according to the manufacturer’s specifications . Acquisition software was used to generate cytokine concentrations from a five parameter logistic curve fit.
2.5.3. Steroid analysis
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*this* Is The Best Time Of Day To Get A Flu Shot
Theres one factor that may make your flu shot more effective, according to a study published in Vaccine earlier this year: getting it in the morning. In the study, 276 adults aged 65 and older got their flu shots between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Researchers measured their antibody levels before the shots and one month after. Remember, antibodies detect and defend against specific viruses and bacteria. The more antibodies you have, the less likely you are to get the flu, explains lead study author, Anna Phillips, PhD, a professor of behavioral medicine at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Those who were vaccinated in the a.m. had significantly higher antibody levels one month later than those who saw their doc in the p.m. We dont yet know whats driving these findings, but it may have to do with which immune cells are circulating more during different times of the day, says Phillips. Its not a bad idea to make like Phillips and get the jab in the morning, but keep in mind there are multiple flu strains that go around ever year, and if the common ones arent among the three or four that are typically included in the flu vaccine in the United States, the timing of your shot wont make much difference. So continue to practice common sense flu prevention, like washing your hands and keeping a healthy distance from people who are clearly ill .
Can I Get The Flu Vaccine If I Have An Egg Allergy
The influenza vaccine is typically grown in eggs. But the traces of egg protein that remain after the vaccine is made are so tiny that the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy says both adults and children with egg allergy can be safely vaccinated against the flu. The risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination is very low, estimated at 1.35 cases per 1 million doses.
It is rare for people with egg allergy to experience other side effects, such as hives, wheezing, vomiting or abdominal pain, after getting the flu shot. If you are concerned, ask your doctor if you, or your child, can be observed by staff for 30 minutes after receiving the vaccine .
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What Are The Side Effects Of The Flu Vaccination
As with all medicines, there may be some side effects. Most side effects are mild and only last for a day or so. Common side effects include:
Redness, soreness or bruising at the injection site
A high temperature, sweating, shivering or feeling unwell
Headaches, fatigue or dizziness
Muscle and joint pain
Serious allergic reactions to the flu vaccine are rare. If this does happen, its usually within minutes of having the vaccination. Your GP and pharmacist are trained to deal with allergic reactions and treat them immediately.
Why Should People Get Vaccinated Against Flu
Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and flu can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Flu can mean a few days of feeling bad and missing work or it can result in more serious illness. Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death in children. While some people who get a flu vaccine may still get sick, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness.
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Icipants And Eligibility Criteria
298 participants were recruited from 24 Primary Care General Practices within the West Midlands, UK, with 276 being eligible for full data analysis. Eligibility criteria to participate in the study were: 65 years old, taking no medication which could influence immune function e.g. immune-suppressants, no current acute infections and no current cancer, diabetes, chronic inflammatory disease or immune disorder. There were no eligibility criteria for clusters except being an NHS GP surgery within the West Midlands UK area willing to take part in the trial and be randomised to vaccinating participants in one of the two time slots.
Who Should Not Have The Flu Vaccine
Most adults can have the flu vaccine, but you should avoid it if you have had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine in the past.
You may be at risk of an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine injection if you have an egg allergy. This is because some flu vaccines are made using eggs.
Ask a GP or pharmacist for a low-egg or egg-free vaccine.
If you’re ill with a high temperature, it’s best to wait until you’re better before having the flu vaccine.
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Flu Vaccine For People With Long
The flu vaccine is offered free on the NHS to anyone with a serious long-term health condition, including:
- a learning disability
- problems with your spleen, for example, sickle cell disease, or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or taking medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
Talk to your doctor if you have a long-term condition that is not in one of these groups. They should offer you the flu vaccine if they think you’re at risk of serious problems if you get flu.
When Will The Flu Shot Be Available
Dr. Deutsch says most people should be able to get their flu shot already if you don’t have access through your local pharmacy or doctor’s office yet, you should have access by the end of August or beginning of September.
If you have health insurance, your flu shot is 100 percent freewhich is required by the Affordable Care Act. Without insurance, the cost is typically around $30, depending on where you live and where you get the shot. Per AARP, some federally-funded health centers offer flu vaccines at a sliding-scale cost to people without insurance you can find one near you by typing your zip code into this map from the Department of Health and Human Services.
“This season, it is likely that the flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both be circulating at the same time,” Tiberi says. “It’s more important than ever to get a flu vaccine in order to reduce risk from getting and spreading the flu virus and reduce the burden on our health care system as the pandemic continues to impact local communities across the country.”
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Do You Need More Than One Dose Of The Flu Vaccine
The CDC recommends two doses for some children ages 6 months to 8 years old.
For those children who are either getting vaccinated for the first time or who have previously received one dose, it’s recommended to get the first dose as soon as the vaccine is available , because the second dose needs to be given at least four weeks later.
Studies in adults have not shown any benefit from getting more than one dose during the flu season, even among the elderly and people who may be immunocompromised.
The Best Flu Vaccine For People Over 65
As we get older, our immune systems have a harder time responding to illnesses and vaccines. To help provide better protection, there are a few recommended options for older adults this year:
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Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent also known as the high-dose flu shot
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Fluad Quadrivalent
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Flublok Quadrivalent
If one of these three vaccines isnt available, you should still get vaccinated with another flu vaccine thats FDA-approved for your age range. All flu vaccines are effective against the flu. Its better to be vaccinated than to try to wait for a particular flu vaccine to become available.
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What Are The Flu Vaccine Side Effects
Common flu shot reactions include redness, soreness, or swelling in the area where the shot was administered. The nasal spray could cause different side effects, such as runny nose, sore throat, or a cough. These side effects are usually mild and short-lived.
Some people may also develop a low-grade fever or body aches. Similar to the other side effects, these symptoms are usually mild and quickly go away on their own. While some of these side effects may feel flu-like, it’s important to remember that flu vaccines will not make you sick with the flu.
Allergic reactions to the flu shot are rare.