How Long Does The Flu Vaccine Protect You

What Flu Viruses Does This Seasons Vaccine Protect Against

Flu vaccines are designed to protect against the main flu viruses that research suggests will be the most common during the upcoming season.

The World Health Organisation has recommended the following strains for the 2021 southern hemisphere flu season:

• A/Brisbane/02/2018 pdm09-like virus
• A/South Australia/34/2019 -like virus
• B/Washington/02/2019-like virus and
• B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus.

I Got Exposed To Covid Heres What I Learned To Do Next

ST. PETERSBURG Last week I was exposed to COVID-19.

I had a group of friends over for dinner before everyone left for the holidays. Everyone was fully vaccinated and symptom-free, so we thought we were in the clear.

The next morning, one guest tested positive.

As the highly contagious omicron variant spreads across the state, its a situation that Floridians will face over the holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an exposure as being within 6 feet of an infected individual for more than 15 minutes.

So sitting next to an infected dinner guest for hours, as I did, definitely counts as an exposure.

Here are some steps that you can take to avoid exposure and what you can do if youve been exposed.

How Does Your Immune System Fight Off A Germ

When your body is under attack, it mounts a defence. So when a germ enters your body, your immune system gears up to get rid of it. For this, your body uses B cells and T cells.

B cells make antibodies whose job it is to prevent you from getting infected with a germ. Antibodies for each germ look different so theyre able to attack that specific virus or bacterium by destroying or blocking it before it can infiltrate our cells.

T cells kick in once youve been infected. Their task is to protect you from falling seriously ill with a germ. Rather than chasing after the invader and catching it before it infects you, T cells kill cells in your body that have already been infected so the uninfected ones have a better chance of survival.

So if a germ, for instance SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19-19, has managed to sidestep your antibodies and penetrate your cells, T cells pick up the mess by sniffing out which cells have been hijacked and getting rid of them.

One specific T cell, a CD8, does the killing. Thats why theyre also known as killer T cells. By killing off infected cells, they prevent you from getting sicker.

You also have something called helper T cells, known as CD4s, which help B cells to make antibodies and CD8s to kill germs that invade your body.

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Do Recent Vaccine Effectiveness Study Results Support Flu Vaccination

The large numbers of flu-associated illnesses and deaths in the United States, combined with the evidence from many studies that show flu vaccines help to protect against flu illness and its potentially serious complications, support the current U.S. flu vaccination recommendations. CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses. Everyone 6 months and older should get an annual flu vaccine, ideally by the end of October.

Are You Eligible For A Free Nhs Flu Vaccination

You may be entitled to a free NHS flu vaccination from your GP or local pharmacist. Find out if you are eligible today.

As with all vaccines, the more uptake there is, the more the disease can be suppressed in the general population. “This year we are for the first time encouraging people in lower risk groups to have a vaccine. If you contract both viruses at once, it could be a deadly cocktail,” explains Dr Foster.

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Will Pfizer’s Drug Be Free

President Joe Biden has said Pfizer’s antiviral treatments will be “easily accessible and free” thanks to his administration already purchasing 10 million treatment courses. Separately, the government is purchasing 1.7 million courses of Merck’s antiviral drug, molnupiravir, to administer if and when it is approved by the FDA.

For more on COVID-19, here’s the latest on COVID-19 vaccines for kids, what to know about mixing and matching vaccines and what is happening with booster shots.

When Is It Time To Get A Covid

If you got Moderna or Pfizer, six months after the date of your second shot listed on your vaccination card is when you’re eligible to receive your booster dose. The CDC and other health authorities are now urging you to get your booster as soon as you’re eligible, to keep your immune response against omicron, delta and other coronavirus variants as strong as possible. Two months after the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is the time for a booster .

On Dec. 2, Biden also outlined a plan for Medicare to contact the 64 million people it serves and for AARP to reach out to its 38 million senior members. Pharmacies like Walgreens, CVS and RiteAid should also contact people who got a vaccine at their retail stores when it’s time to schedule another dose.

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Misconceptions About Flu Vaccines

Can a flu vaccine give you flu?

No, flu vaccines cannot cause flu illness. Flu vaccines given with a needle are made with either inactivated viruses, or with only a single protein from the flu virus. The nasal spray vaccine contains live viruses that are attenuated so that they will not cause illness.

Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over the others?

For the 2021-2022 flu season, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older with any licensed, influenza vaccine that is appropriate for the recipients age and health status, including inactivated influenza vaccine , recombinant influenza vaccine , or live attenuated nasal spray influenza vaccine with no preference expressed for any one vaccine over another.

There are many vaccine options to choose from, but the most important thing is for all people 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine every year. If you have questions about which vaccine is best for you, talk to your doctor or other health care professional.

Is it better to get sick with flu than to get a flu vaccine?

Do I really need a flu vaccine every year?

Why do some people not feel well after getting a seasonal flu vaccine?

• Carolyn Bridges et al. . Effectiveness and cost-benefit of influenza vaccination of healthy working adults: A randomized controlled trialexternal icon.

What about serious reactions to flu vaccine?

Can vaccinating someone twice provide added immunity?

Misconceptions About Physician Consent For Vaccination

Do pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions need special permission or written consent from their doctor to get a flu vaccine?

No. There is no recommendation for pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions to seek special permission or secure written consent from their doctor for vaccination if they get vaccinated at a worksite clinic, pharmacy or other location outside of their physicians office. With rare exception, CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older, including pregnant women and people with medical conditions.

A variety of flu vaccine products are available . Vaccine providers should be aware of the approved age indications of the vaccine they are using and of any contraindications or precautions. Providers also should appropriately screen all people getting vaccinated for allergies to vaccine components or other contraindications. People who have previously had a severe allergic reaction to influenza vaccine or any of its ingredients should generally not be vaccinated.

There are some people who should not get a flu vaccine without first speaking with their doctor. These include:

Pregnant women or people with pre-existing medical conditions who get vaccinated should get a flu shot.

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Flu Vaccination Is Likely To Be Free If You Answer ‘yes’ To Any Of These Questions

• Does your child have asthma and regularly use a preventer medicine ?
• Is your child aged 4 years or under and has a significant respiratory illness or been in hospital for a respiratory illness ?
• Does your child have a heart condition ?
• Does your child have cancer?
• Does your child have an ongoing chest condition, such as bronchiectasis or cystic fibrosis?
• Does your child have diabetes?
• Does your child have ongoing kidney disease?
• Does your child have HIV or AIDS, an auto-immune disease or another immune deficiency?

Your child will also need to be entitled to publicly funded health services in New Zealand. You can check the Ministry of Health’s Guide to eligibility.

Flu Vaccine And Coronavirus

Flu vaccination is important because:

• more people are likely to get flu this winter as fewer people will have built up natural immunity to it during the COVID-19 pandemic
• if you get flu and COVID-19 at the same time, research shows you’re more likely to be seriously ill
• getting vaccinated against flu and COVID-19 will provide protection for you and those around you for both these serious illnesses

If you’ve had COVID-19, it’s safe to have the flu vaccine. It will still be effective at helping to prevent flu.

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When To Get The Flu Shot

Flu season typically runs from late fall to early spring.

Flu shots are now available for all Ontarians. You should get a flu shot as soon as possible because it takes two weeks to take effect.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization now recommends that COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as the flu vaccine.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacy to learn more.

How To Get Vaccinated

The COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 and up and booster shots for eligible recipients are being administered at doctors offices, clinics, pharmacies, grocery stores and public vaccination sites. Many allow appointments to be booked online. Heres how to find a site near you:

Find a site: Visit vaccines.gov to find vaccination sites in your zip code.

More help: Call the National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline.

Phone: 800-232-0233. Help is available in English, Spanish and other languages.

TTY: 888-720-7489

Disability Information and Access Line: Call 888-677-1199 or email DIAL@n4a.org.

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How Long Will My Vaccine Protect Me

May 25, 2021 | Kim Schive

MIT Medical answers your COVID-19 questions. Got a question about COVID-19? Send it to us at , and well do our best to provide an answer.

When I got one of the very first COVID-19 mRNA vaccines way back in January, I was the envy of all my friends. Now that everyone is getting vaccinated, I dont feel quite as cool. My newly vaccinated friends are planning fall vacations to exciting and exotic locations, while Im wondering if my immunity will be gone by then. How long should I expect my vaccine protection to last? Should I be postponing travel until I can get a booster shot?

Because vaccines against COVID-19 are so new, we dont yet know how long vaccine-induced immunity will persist. Nor do we know when or if booster shots will be needed. However, scientists are working hard to answer those questions, and early results are promising.

Recent data shows that robust levels of neutralizing antibodies, which are highly predictive of immune protection, persist for at least six months in people who received both doses of Modernas mRNA vaccine. Theres some evidence, in fact, that vaccination produces significantly higher antibody levels than natural infection.

So, when will I need a booster shot?

It depends on whether youre asking CEOs or scientists.

The science isnt there yet.

But arent my antibody levels lower than my newly vaccinated peers?

Yes, probably. But antibodies dont tell the whole story.

But what about viral variants?

Will The Flu Vaccine Give Me The Flu

The vaccine cannot cause the flu because it does not contain any live viruses. The vaccine stimulates an immune response which can include symptoms such as fever, headache and tiredness. This creates immunity but doesn’t cause the illness. Most people tolerate the vaccine well.

Any after-effects from the vaccine are usually mild and last a day or two, and may include:

• soreness, aching and/or redness at the injection site
• tiredness, feeling a little unwell or having a mild fever.

These are signs your immune system is working with the vaccine. Contact your doctor know if you have any more severe reaction to the flu vaccination or if you are at all concerned.

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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:

• 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.

What Does Omicron Mean For The Countrys Hospitals

NICD data shows an increasing decoupling between new cases and hospitalisations, so while new Covid-19 cases during the Omicron wave are increasing at a much steeper rate than during the Delta wave, hospital admissions are rising at a considerably slower pace.

Figures also reveal that patients in our current wave stay in hospital for shorter periods than during the Delta wave, and, when they are hospitalised, a smaller proportion require oxygen or end up in high-care or intensive care units. Moreover, almost everyone who is admitted to health facilities with Omicron is unvaccinated

Scientists dont yet know if the lower hospitalisation rates are because Omicron causes less severe disease, whether vaccination of particularly older people, who are more vulnerable to falling seriously ill with Covid-19 than younger people, are protecting them, or if its a combination of both factors.

NICD data, and also Discoverys real-world data, show that younger people, particularly those below 20 years of age, showed a higher risk of hospital admission than older people during the first few weeks of the Omicron.

But its way too soon to tell if this trend will continue as the wave progresses.

Its too early to be making claims that Omicron causes mild disease and in fact thats quite a dangerous message to put out there, says Richard Lessells, an infectious disease expert and scientist who was one of the scientists who identified Omicron in South Africa.

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If You Have An Egg Allergy

Some of the flu vaccines are made using eggs.

Its important that you tell the person giving you your vaccine if you have an egg allergy or if youve ever had a serious allergic reaction to a flu vaccine.

If you’re affected, please speak to your health professional for advice. An egg-free vaccine may be available.

Can I Get The Flu From The Flu Vaccine

No. The virus thats in the flu vaccine is either dead or for FluMist Quadrivalent extremely weak. Because of this, flu vaccines are unable to cause the flu. However, some people experience flu-like symptoms in the days that follow their vaccine. These are side effects of the flu vaccine, and its a sign your immune system is learning how to fight the flu virus.

After your flu vaccine, you may experience:

• A sore, red, or swollen arm

• A headache

• Muscle aches

• Tiredness

Remember, these are expected side effects and dont mean youre getting sick with the flu. They should go away within a few days.

Unfortunately, its still possible to get sick with the flu after youve received your flu vaccine. It takes about 2 weeks after your vaccine for your immune system to protect you fully. So its possible to catch the flu during that time. And as mentioned earlier, flu vaccine effectiveness isnt perfect. Its also possible to get sick with a strain that wasnt included in the vaccine.

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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.

Which Vaccines Are Used

• cell-based Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine

This year, the Adjuvanted Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine is being offered to people aged 65 or over. This vaccine contains a substance, known as an adjuvant, to help to stimulate the immune system and create a better response.

This vaccine has been widely used in many other countries and has been shown to offer better and longer-lasting protection in older people than flu vaccines without an adjuvant.

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The Flu Shot Is Effective

The effectiveness of the vaccine varies from season to season. It depends on:

• how well the vaccine matches with the circulating flu viruses
• the health and age of the person getting the flu shot

The viruses circulating in the population can sometimes change during the time it takes to produce a vaccine. When this happens during the flu season, the flu shot may not work as well as expected.

It’s also important to remember that the flu shot protects against several different flu viruses each season. The seasonal flu shot can still provide protection against the remaining 2 or 3 viruses, even when theres:

• a less-than-ideal match
• lower effectiveness against one virus

If you do get the flu, the flu shot may reduce the severity of flu-related complications.

Getting your flu shot is still the most effective way to protect yourself against the flu and flu-related complications.