How Effective Is The Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine gives the best protection against flu.
Flu vaccines help protect against the main types of flu viruses, although there’s still a chance you might get flu.
If you do get flu after vaccination, it’s likely to be milder and not last as long.
Having the flu vaccine will also stop you spreading flu to other people who may be more at risk of serious problems from flu.
It can take 10 to 14 days for the flu vaccine to work.
Which Antivirals Does The Cdc Recommend
The CDC recommends baloxavir marboxil , oseltamivir , peramivir , and zanamivir for flu. They are most effective when given within 48 hours after symptoms start to appear. These flu drugs can decrease the duration of the flu by one to two days if used within this early time period. Oseltamivir , and zanamivir are usually given for a period of five days to treat the flu. For flu prevention, they are typically used for at least 7 days. In some cases, antivirals may be given for longer periods of time. For prevention of flu, antiviral drugs may be given for at least 7 days. In some cases, antivirals may be given for longer periods of time.
Oseltamivir is approved for treatment in those over 2 weeks of age and for prevention in people ages 3 months and older.
Peramivir, given in one intravenous dose, is approved for people ages 2 and older.
Zanamivir, an inhaled medication, is approved for treatment of people ages 7 and older and for prevention in people ages 5 and older.
What Else Can I Do To Protect Myself From The Flu
Dr. Gandhi stressed that Covid-19 precautions hand washing, mask wearing, social distancing and isolating yourself when sick also help prevent the spread of flu. I would encourage people to go into this fall and winter season trying to also be adherent to all of those preventive health measures, she said.
Melinda Wenner Moyer is a science journalist.
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You’re Allergic To Gelatin
If you have a gelatin allergy, it’s important to consult with your medical provider before getting a flu shot. According to Dr. Stephanie Albin Leeds, MD, an allergist from Northwell Health, “Gelatin is used in the flu shot, as well as other vaccines, as a stabilizer. Because it is found in the vaccine, those with a known allergy to gelatin can experience allergic reactions, such as hives, sneezing, and difficulty breathing.”
A gelatin allergy is rare, but if you know you are allergic, you can still get the flu shot. However, it should be administered by a board-certified allergist. He or she can observe you after administering the shot and take the necessary steps to reverse an allergic reaction, if one does occur.
When To Seek Medical Care
These are the emergency warning signs of flu sickness.
In children:
- fast breathing or trouble breathing
- bluish lips or face
- ribs pulling in with each breath
- chest pain
- severe muscle pain
- dehydration
- not alert or interacting when awake
- seizures
- in children less than 12 weeks old, any fever
- fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
- worsening of chronic medical conditions
These are not all of the possible emergency warning signs of flu. Contact your doctor about any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.
If you have the emergency warning signs of flu sickness, you should obtain medical care right away.
In adults:
- difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- persistent pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- persistent dizziness, confusion, inability to arouse
- seizures
- fever or cough that improve but then return or worsen
- worsening of chronic medical conditions
High-risk Group:
If you have symptoms of flu and are in a high-risk group, or are very sick or worried about your illness, contact your doctor.
High-risk groups include:
- adults 65 years and older
- anyone with these conditions:
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Your Good Health: Flu Shot And Lyme Disease Shouldnt Mix
Dear Dr. Roach: Should people with Lyme disease avoid the flu shot?
L.A.
Lyme disease is a potentially serious infection caused by the bacteria Borrellia burgorferi, passed on by a tick bite. Lyme disease can go unrecognized for a period of time, especially when the classic rash is not present, which is not uncommon. Without prompt treatment, Lyme disease can progress to affect the brain, nerves, joints and heart.
In general, people with a moderate to severe illness should not get the flu vaccine while ill. It is safe to give the flu shot to a person with mild illness, such as cold without a fever. In the case of Lyme disease, I would recommend withholding the flu shot from someone with active symptoms . After finishing antibiotics, it would be safe to take the flu vaccine.
Some people have symptoms after treatment for Lyme disease, a condition called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome. It is not clear why some people treated for Lyme develop PTLDS. However, there is no reason I could find nor evidence to support withholding the influenza vaccine for people with post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome.
S.J.
There are two types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive is far more common, and relates to too much soft tissue around the airway, often in association with being overweight. If your husband had a sleep study to make the diagnosis and quantify the number of apnea events of 50 an hour, then he should know which type he has.
Whats Different About The Flu Vaccines And Recommendations This Year
All of the available flu vaccines protect against the four flu strains that are most likely to circulate this year. All approved flu vaccines including the shots as well as the nasal spray are recommended by the C.D.C. Most shots are approved for babies older than 6 months, while the nasal spray is approved for healthy, nonpregnant people between 2 and 49 years old.
For children, the nasal spray may provide a bit more protection than the shots, Dr. Palese said, because it contains a live attenuated virus and might provide an additional form of immunity inside the nose. Dr. Fradin agreed, but noted that the spray is, however, more likely than the flu shot to cause congestion as a side effect.
The C.D.C. recommends that people 65 and older receive either the high-dose flu shot or the shot that contains an immune-boosting adjuvant .
Also, it is now safe and effective to get the flu shot and the Covid vaccine at the same time, Dr. Maragakis said.
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If You’re Over 65 Years Of Age You May Need A Special Vaccine
If you’re older than 65 years of age, the CDC labels you as “high risk” for developing complications connected to the flu. As we age, our immune system becomes weaker, making it harder for your body to fight off the illness, so it can lead to chronic conditions or even death. The CDC estimated that between 70% and 90% of flu deaths in recent years occurred in people who were older than 65.
It’s not that you should skip the flu shot if you’re older than 65 years of age, but that you should get a special high-dose flu vaccine instead. The CDC recommends a flu shot that has four times the antigen as the regular vaccine. After conducting a clinical trial with over 30,000 participants, the CDC concluded, “adults 65 years and older who received the high-dose vaccine had 24% fewer influenza infections as compared to those who received the standard dose flu vaccine.”
What Does Antibiotic Resistance Mean
According to the CDC, antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria changes in some way to reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of the antibiotic.
When bacteria are exposed to antibiotics repeatedly, such as when you take the medication needlessly or too frequently, the germs in your body start to evolve. These changes can make the germs stronger than before so they completely resist the antibiotic. Your illness may linger with no signs of improvement. Or your illness may suddenly take a turn for the worse, requiring you to seek emergency medical care. You may have to be admitted to the hospital and get several different antibiotics intravenously. Sadly, those around you may get the resistant bacteria and come down with a similar illness that is very difficult to treat.
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Should I Avoid Antibiotics Altogether
Not at all. Antibiotics can save people’s lives, and if you need them, you should get them as quickly as you can. Since only a doctor can prescribe antibiotics, this means that you should talk to your doctor if you think you might need them .
However, it is the grave over-reliance and inappropriate use of antibiotics that have contributed to the global antibiotic resistance crisis that we face.
A study by the CDC showed that many adults believe that if they are sick enough to see a doctor for a cold, they should get an antibiotic treatment. The study also showed that patients are not aware of the consequences of taking the drugs if they are not needed. And when antibiotics are misused, bacteria can become resistant.
Can Vaccinations Be Administered To People Taking Stelara
Prior to starting treatment with Stelara, patients should receive all their appropriate immunizations for their age as recommended by National guidelines. It is important people administered Stelara DO NOT receive live vaccines. This includes:
- BCG vaccine for tuberculosis. This should not be given during treatment or within ONE YEAR of initiating or discontinuing Stelara
- Measles, mumps rubella vaccine
- Varicella vaccine.
Caution should also be exercised when administering live vaccines to close contacts of people taking Stelara as viral shedding and subsequent transmission of the virus to Stelara patients may occur.
In addition, non-live vaccines that are administered during treatment with Stelara may not initiate an immune response that is sufficient to prevent disease.
However, a yearly flu vaccine is currently recommended for people administered Stelara. A trial is currently underway investigating how the immune response is affected to vaccines in people taking biologics.
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What Kinds Of Flu Shots Are There
Flu shots known as “quadrivalent vaccines” protect against four strains of flu virus. These include two influenza A strains H1N1 and H3N2 and two influenza B strains. Previously, some flu shots protected against three strains, and were known as trivalent flu vaccines, but starting in the 2021-2022 season, all flu shots are quadrivalent, according to the CDC.
In addition to the standard-dose flu vaccine given through a needle, flu shots are available in several different forms. These include a high-dose version for those ages 65 and older a “cell-based” version that’s grown in animal cells rather than hen’s eggs and is approved for people ages 4 and older a “recombinant” vaccine that does not use the full influenza virus or chicken eggs in the production process and is approved for people ages 18 and older and a nasal spray, which is approved for healthy people ages 2 to 49, but not for pregnant women.
There is also a needle-free flu shot, delivered by a so-called jet injector, which uses a high-pressure stream of fluid to inject the vaccine, the CDC says. It is approved for adults ages 18 to 64.
Our Response To Flu Vaccine May Be Weakened By Antibiotics
Planning on getting an influenza vaccination this year? A new study led by immunologist Bali Pulendran, PhD, and his Stanford colleagues, in collaboration with researchers at several other institutions, suggests you get that shot when you’re not just coming off a course of antibiotics, right in the middle of such a regimen or just about to begin one.
Planning on not getting a seasonal flu shot this year? The same study hints that you’re better off getting one, in case the real bad bug comes along just when when your gut-bacterial population happens to be depleted — due, say, to your recent use of antibiotics.
The study, published in Cell, showed that decimating healthy adults’ trillions-strong population of gut-resident bacteria by subjecting them to a round of antibiotic treatment reduced a standard measure of their immune systems’ responsiveness to influenza vaccination. From my release:
The depletion of gut bacteria by antibiotics appears to leave the immune system less able to respond to new challenges, such as exposure to previously unencountered germs or vaccines… “To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of the effects of broad-spectrum antibiotics on the immune response in humans — in this case, our response to vaccination — directly induced through the disturbance of our gut bacteria,” said.
Photo by Heather Hazzan/ American Academy of Pediatrics and SELF Magazine
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Speak To Your Doctor Or Healthcare Provider First
Before getting the flu shot, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider. People with cancer need to be careful about the type of flu vaccine they get. Its safe to get the injected vaccine because it uses a dead virus and does not cause flu symptoms. You should not get the nasal spray because it is made from a live vaccine that could cause a serious illness.
Do not get the flu shot if you:
- are allergic to any of the vaccine components have a platelet count below 20,000
- have experienced a serious allergic reaction from a previous flu shot
- developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of a previous flu shot
You can also ask your doctor if you should get a pneumococcal shot. Many people who are at increased risk for flu are also at increased risk for pneumococcal infections such as pneumonia.
How Can I Protect My Family And Myself From Antibiotic Resistance
There is a way to protect yourself and others from resistant bacteria, and that is to respect antibiotics and take them only when necessary for a bacterial infection. Here are some useful tips:
Preventing the flu in the first place may help you avoid getting sick altogether. Get a flu shot each year. Also, make sure you wash your hands frequently and thoroughly to prevent spreading germs.
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Who Should And Who Should Not Get A Flu Vaccine
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get an influenza vaccine every season, with rare exceptions. For the 2021-2022 flu season, three main types of influenza vaccines will be available. Two kindsthe inactivated influenza vaccines and the recombinant influenza vaccine are injectable . The third type, the live attenuated influenza vaccine , is given by nasal spray. Different influenza vaccines are approved for different age groups. Some people should not get some types of influenza vaccines, and some people should not receive influenza vaccines at all . Everyone who is vaccinated should receive a vaccine that is appropriate for their age and health status. There is no preference for any one vaccine over another.
This page includes information on who should and who should not get an influenza vaccine, and who should talk to a health care professional before vaccination. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions regarding which influenza vaccines are best for you and your family.
All persons aged 6 months of age and older are recommended for annual flu vaccination, with rare exception.
Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.
People who can get the flu shot:
Flu shots are appropriate for most people.
People who SHOULD NOT get a flu shot include:
People who SHOULD NOT get a nasal spray vaccine:
Groups Who Should Especially Get The Vaccine
The flu shot can protect you against the flu. Because of this, it can reduce your chances of being infected with COVID-19 and the flu at the same time. This can lead to serious complications. You should especially receive the flu vaccine this season if youre:
- at high risk of severe COVID-19 related illness
- capable of spreading the flu to those at high risk of severe illness related to COVID-19
The flu vaccine is especially important for the following groups.
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Why Do Omicron Symptoms Differ From Those Of Other Variants
Researchers are still trying to answer that question, but the key obviously lies in those multiple genetic changes that weve seen in this variant compared to old ones, Sterling says.
Early data suggest Omicron mostly accumulates in the upper airways, as opposed to penetrating the lungs. This could help explain both its reduced lethality and, potentially, why it often causes upper respiratory symptoms, like runny nose and sore throat. But the variant is still new and research is ongoing.
You Had A Severe Reaction To The Shot Last Year
If you experienced a severe reaction to your flu shot last year, talk to your doctor first before heading in for this year’s vaccine. In most cases, the reaction you experienced wasn’t related to the flu shot at all. However, in some cases, it may be a sign that you’re allergic to a component used in the flu vaccine. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The flu vaccine isn’t recommended for anyone who had a severe reaction to a previous flu vaccine.”
According to Dr. May, you’ll know you’re having a severe allergic reaction if you experience “lip or tongue swelling, wheezing, hives, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, paleness or a fast heartbeat.”
Your doctor may still recommend that you get the flu vaccine since this illness can be dangerous and lead to serious complications. Your medical provider may want to monitor you or have another medical professional observe your reaction to the vaccine this year, just to be safe.
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