Is There An Official Medical Recommendation That All People With Diabetes Need A Flu Shot
Yes. The CDC recommends it, and they also recommend a pneumonia shot. Additionally, the two big national diabetes organizations the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommend annual flu shots in their practice guidelines for treating all people with diabetes.
This is because we PWDs get sick more easily than non-diabetics, and when we do get sick, we get a lot sicker. A shot is recommended every year because, as mentioned, theres a different strain of flu circulating every year.
But its not just PWDs who should get vaccinated. The CDC strongly advises that everyone older than 6 months old get a flu shot. Flu is an equal opportunity killer. And even if youre the healthiest person in the world, and can easily survive the flu, you could still pass the flu on to someone not so strong. So dont be a Typhoid Mary. Everyone should get a flu vax. Its good citizenship.
What Is The Cell
The production of influenza vaccines traditionally involves hens eggs. However, there is a different method for cell-based influenza vaccines such as Flucelvax Quad, the only cell-based flu vaccine approved for use in Australia. Its approved for use in people aged 9 years and older but has not been added to the National Immunisation Program schedule.
Studies show that cell-based vaccines have a similar efficacy and safety profile to standard flu vaccines. Normally, neither type is recommended over the other.
However, standard flu vaccines are preferred for use in pregnancy because a large body of evidence supports their safety for pregnant women. The safety of cell-based flu vaccines during pregnancy hasnt been assessed.
What Happens When You Give Blood
You might be wondering how blood donation works at an Australian Red Cross Blood Service donor centre. For donors, it involves a whole lot of doing nothing.
How long does it take?
The blood donation itself takes between 5 and 15 minutes, with the whole appointment taking 1 hour. Plasma or platelets donation takes 45 minutes, with the whole appointment taking 1.5 hours.
Welcome
When you arrive at the donor centre, you’ll be greeted warmly by a reception staff member and your ID will be checked. You’ll be asked to complete a confidential donor questionnaire.
Interview
A trained staff member will discuss your questionnaire answers with you and ask further questions to check that you’re fine to donate. You’ll have a ‘finger prick’ test to check your level of haemoglobin and your blood pressure will be tested.
Donation
You’ll relax on a comfy chair or couch while you donate. You can read, chat with staff members or watch TV. Staff will monitor you closely to ensure you’re OK, but speak up if you feel uncomfortable or worried.
Rest time
After your donation is completed, you’ll rest on the couch for around 5 to 10 minutes. Then, you’ll be invited to the refreshments area to relax for another 15 minutes with a complimentary drink and snack.
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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 .
Can You Get The Flu From The Flu Vaccine
Temple-Wood explained that the flu shot is an inactivated or killed virus vaccine, which means you cant get sick from the shot.
When you get the shot, your immune system makes antibodies against the dead viruses, and these antibodies protect you from being infected by the live virus, she said.
Jessica Malaty Rivera, MS, infectious disease researcher and science communication lead at the COVID Tracking Project agreed: No, you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine.
Even the nasal spray flu vaccine which contains live, but weakened, virus will not cause the flu.
Rivera added, For those who are vaccinated against flu and still get the flu during flu season, symptoms are often milder as a result of vaccination.
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What To Avoid After Blood Donation
Donating blood usually does not affect a persons daily routine. However, it can limit what a person can do immediately afterward.
The loss of red blood cells means that there is less oxygen circulating in the body. As a result, a person very strenuous activities right after a donation. This may include:
- manual labor
- heavy lifting
- cardio exercises
For the rest of the day after donating blood, it is generally a good idea to avoid any activities that get the heart rate up.
Going forward, a person can gradually reintroduce exercise and heavy lifting. Returning to these activities slowly can help prevent any adverse effects of the blood loss. Also, a person should avoid drinking alcohol for the first 24 hours after a donation.
Flu Shot Side Effects : What’s Normal And What’s Cause For Concern
All vaccines have the potential to cause side effects, and that includes your yearly flu shot. But most are totally normal.
The coronavirus is still a very real concern this fall, but so is the influenza virus, aka the flu. The good news is we have very safe and effective tools for fighting and preventing both potentially deadly viruses, thanks to the COVID-19 vaccines and the flu vaccine.
According to the CDC, flu shots are safe and one of the best ways to keep from getting and spreading the flu to others. And people who get vaccinated and get sick anyway often experience less severe symptoms. If you’re thinking of getting vaccinated for both COVID-19 and the flu, the CDC says it is safe to get both vaccines together .
The simple fact is, flu vaccines can save lives. There are plenty of myths out there about the flu vaccine, such as the idea that it can give you the flu. While that’s not true, you can experience some side effects from the flu shot. The side effects are usually mild and nothing to worry about, but it’s important to know about them so you’re not worried when you get your vaccine.
Below, Dr. Carmen Teague, specialty medical director at Atrium Health‘s Mecklenburg Medical Group shares what you need to know about common flu shot side effects that are normal, and which side effects may be a sign of something more serious.
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When Should I Get The Flu Shot To Make Sure It Lasts The Full Season
The CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine before flu begins spreading in your community. This is because it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the flu shot to start working in the body.
So it makes the most sense to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season kicks into full swing. Specifically, the CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.
Some years, the flu may begin early and then ebb for a while before another strain kicks in, going into the spring, so dont wait too long into the season.
Getting vaccinated later, however, can still be beneficial and vaccination typically continues to be offered throughout flu season, even into January or later.
Children who need
Red Cross Urges Donations As Flu Season May Affect Blood Supply
DAVENPORT, Iowa – The American Red Cross is urging donors to donate now to combat the lowest blood supply levels at this time of year in more than a decade.
The Red Cross is also addressing an ongoing emergency blood shortage.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned about a potential spike in flu cases this year and said its important that those who are eligible, healthy and feeling well make an appointment to donate blood.
According to the CDC, flu cases reached an all-time low last year due to masking, physical distancing and shutdowns across the country, and many Americans may have reduced immunity this year.
When seasonal illness increases, the number of healthy blood donors tends to decrease, the Red Cross said in a media release. Paired with winter weather, busy holiday schedules and ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the already-struggling blood supply could be further impacted throughout winter.
There is no blood donation waiting period for those who have received a flu shot or a Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine or booster, so long as they are symptom-free, the American Red Cross said.
The Red Cross urges donors to schedule an appointment now by using the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS .
To encourage donors to help meet the needs of hospital patients this month, the Red Cross said all who come to donate now through Nov. 23 will receive a $10 gift card by email, thanks to Amazon.
Iowa
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How Is The Flu Vaccine Made
Flu experts at more than 100 influenza centers around the world keep track of the different flu variations, or strains, and go through an intensive research process to identify which strains may be the most common in a given season.
This research process helps create a flu vaccine thats specific to the common flu strains expected that winter.
However, flu viruses vary every year, and this means some flu seasons are worse, and some years the flu vaccine may be less effective.
Signs Of A More Serious Reaction
“A very small percentage of people can have a true allergic reaction to the vaccine, including chest tightness, difficulty breathing, wheezing, facial or throat swelling and redness of the eyes,” Teague says. If you experience these symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately. Teague says severe allergic reactions usually happen within a few hours of getting the flu shot.
Signs of a severe allergic reaction, according to the CDC, can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling around the eyes or lips
- Hives
- Weakness
- A fast heartbeat or dizziness
Another possible reaction is an infection where the shot was administered. “Patients can also develop an infection at the injection site, which is manifested as worsening redness, swelling, warmth and tenderness,” Teague says. You should also seek immediate medical attention for this type of reaction.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.
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What Is An Enhanced Influenza Vaccine
An enhanced flu vaccine is one that contains an adjuvant, an ingredient designed to increase the immune-system response to the vaccine. People aged 65 and older are often given an enhanced influenza vaccine because since the immune system weakens with age they dont respond as well to the flu vaccine as healthy, younger adults.
Fluad Quad is an enhanced flu vaccine recommended for people aged 65 and over in Australia.
Preparing For Your Vaccine
You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including a flu vaccine, at the same visit. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, and possible side effects after getting vaccinated are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines. Learn more about the timing of other vaccines.
You should get a COVID-19 vaccine even if you already had COVID-19.
Getting sick with COVID-19 offers some protection from future illness with COVID-19, sometimes called natural immunity. The level of protection people get from having COVID-19 may vary depending on how mild or severe their illness was, the time since their infection, and their age. No currently available test can reliably determine if a person is protected from infection.
All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States are effective at preventing COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives most people a high level of protection against COVID-19 even in people who have already been sick with COVID-19.
Emerging evidence shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system. One study showed that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.
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What You Can Do
If you’re well, you should strongly consider donating blood. Every blood donation can help save 3 lives. Even if you have a cold or are getting over the flu, you may still be able to help.
- If you don’t have a cold or the flu, visit Donateblood.com.au or call 13 14 95 to check if you’re eligible and to make an appointment.
- If you have a cold and have mild symptoms such as a runny nose but you don’t have a fever, you can still donate plasma. Plasma is the fluid that carries the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
- If you have a cold or the flu, you can donate blood, as normal, 7 days after you’ve recovered from your symptoms.
- If you recently had the flu vaccination and are feeling well, you can still donate blood. Because it’s not a ‘live’ vaccine, flu vaccination does not affect blood donation.
Is It Safe To Get Both Shots At Once
According to the CDC, current guidance has shown that COVID-19 vaccines can be coadministered with other vaccines, including influenza vaccines.
Lisa Grohskopf, MD, MPH, a medical officer in the influenza division at CDC, tells Verywell that while weve said recently when asked that its safe to get both vaccines, this is the first published notice.
The CDCs recommendation to give both shots at the same vaccine appointment is an update to previous guidance, which stated that people should wait 14 days between the COVID-19 and other vaccines.
According to the CDC, the guidance changed because experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines.
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What Safety Precautions Are In Place
The Red Cross is committed to the safety of donors, staff, and volunteers. We only collect blood from donors who are healthy and symptom-free. No matter which COVID-19 vaccine you receive, please do not present to donate unless you are symptom-free and feeling well. Mild side effects can occur after the administration of vaccines of any type, although they usually disappear within a few days. If you experience any side effects, please wait to donate until you are feeling well.
To ensure everyones safety, the Red Cross is taking additional safety precautions during the pandemic including:
- Donor and staff temperature checks before entering drives
- All donors and staff required to wear a face covering or mask in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Following social distancing practices in waiting and refreshment areas as well as spacing beds 6 feet apart where possible
- Wiping down donor-touched areas and enhanced disinfecting of surfaces and equipment
- Having hand sanitizer readily available
- Wearing gloves and changing them often
- Using sterile collection sets
- Using aseptic scrubs on arms
- Laundering blankets used by donors and encouraging donors to bring their own
- Conducting mini-physicals to ensure donor health
For more information about making a blood donation if you receive a COVID-19 vaccination, download the COVID-19 Vaccination and Blood Donation guide.
Diabetes And The Flu Shot: What To Know
Whenever a nip of cold is in the air, and coughs and sneezes ring out in public places, you know its flu season again. If you live with diabetes, youre probably being prodded to go get a flu shot and related vaccines.
But over the years, our mailbag has filled up with questions about how those shots may mix with diabetes care.
Heres a Q& A covering all you need to know:
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Can I Have The Flu Vaccine If I Take Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Immune checkpoint inhibitors are a type of medicine used to treat some cancers, including metastatic melanoma, renal clear cell carcinoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, non-small celllung cancer and other solid organ tumours. Checkpoint inhibitors include ipilimumab, nivolumab and pembrolizumab.
People taking checkpoint inhibitors may have a higher risk of immune-related side effects following influenza vaccination. Talk to your oncologist about the risks and benefits of the flu shot.
For more information on the flu vaccine, go to the Department of Health website or call the National Immunisation Hotline on 1800 671 811.
Flu Vaccination Does Not Prevent Blood Donation
Flu Vaccination Does Not Prevent Blood Donation
Flu season is underway, and it is expected that more than half of the U.S. population will get a flu vaccine this year according to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases . However, the American Red Cross does not defer individuals from donating blood after receiving the influenza vaccine if they are symptom-free and meet all other donation eligibility requirements.
Important Flu and Blood Facts
The flu vaccine can be administered by a flu shot or intranasal. Neither are cause for a blood donation deferral and there is no risk of transmitting the influenza virus after receiving the vaccine. Additionally, influenza virus has not been shown to be transmitted through blood transfusion.
For those that have the flu, it is important to wait until they no longer exhibit flu symptoms, have recovered completely and feel well before attempting to donate. All blood donors must feel healthy and well on the day of donation.
How Healthy Individuals Can Donate
Learn more about how to stay healthy this flu season so you can help patients in need. Individuals can find more information about preventing the flu on redcross.org, as well as receive guidance on the flu from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
Schedule an appointment to give blood with the American Red Cross by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or activating the Blood Scheduling Skill for Amazon Alexa.
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