Is The Flu Vaccination Safe
The flu vaccination is safe and effective and must be given annually. It cannot give you the flu. It does not protect you from COVID-19 or seasonal coughs and colds, but it does give protection against the strains of flu virus that will be circulating this year. Adults usually receive the flu vaccination in injection form, and children usually receive a nasal spray.
Why Are Household Contacts Of Those On The Nhs Shielded Patient List Being Offered Flu Vaccine This Year
We want to keep those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 well this winter and we do not want them to catch flu. In order to reduce the chance of a person who has an underlying health condition catching flu from members of their household we will be offering their household contacts the flu vaccine. If you live with someone who is on the NHS Shielded Patient List, or if you expect to share accommodation with them on most days over the winter, making close contact unavoidable, then you should ask for a free flu vaccine.
What Is The Difference Between Covid
Influenza and COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus that’s led to the current pandemic, are both infectious respiratory illnesses. Although the symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu can look similar, the two illnesses are caused by different viruses. Research so far indicates that COVID-19 spreads more easily and has a higher death rate than the flu.
- COVID-19: Caused by one virus, the novel 2019 coronavirus, now called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, or SARS-CoV-2.
- Influenza: Caused by any of several different types and strains of influenza viruses.
- Loss of taste or smell
*Upper respiratory symptoms, like runny nose and sinus congestion, are very uncommon in COVID-19.
The severity of COVID-19 symptoms ranges from mild to severe. If you suspect you have COVID-19, call Intermountain Healthcares 24-hour hotline, Health Answers, at to talk with an Intermountain clinician who can review your symptoms and give specific care recommendations. If your symptoms are mild you will likely be directed to stay home to protect others from illness and follow the CDCs recommended guidance for self-care. If youre referred to a testing site or medical facility, remember to call ahead and let them know your symptoms before you go in. for more detailed information on coronavirus.
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Why Should Pregnant People Get A Flu Shot
Influenza is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant people than in people of reproductive age who are not pregnant. Changes to the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make people more susceptible to influenza severe enough to cause hospitalization throughout pregnancy and up to two weeks postpartum. Influenza also may be harmful for the developing baby. A common influenza symptom fever may be associated with neural tube defects and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby. Parental vaccination also can help protect a baby from influenza after birth .
What The Flu Shot Does
The flu shot is designed to help your body fight off the influenza virus when you are exposed to it. It is one of multiple ways to prevent spreading the flu. The flu is spread by droplets, so being near an individual with the flu can easily lead to exposure to the virus. These droplets can also survive for a short period on objects, so touching a door handle or another object after a person infected by influenza can also lead to exposure.
The flu vaccine helps your body fight off the virus, so that you do not develop the flu after being exposed to a sick individual. People can spread the flu virus before they become ill as well as during their illness, so exposure during the flu season is very common.
It is important to remember that the flu can be spread up to 24 hours before symptoms appear, so the idea that you will just stay home if you are sick means you can spread the flu for a full day before you actually know you are ill.
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Will I Be Safe When I Go For The Flu Vaccine If Covid
While COVID-19 is in circulation, providers of flu vaccination will have measures in place to keep you safe. Staff giving the vaccine will be wearing protective equipment to protect both you and themselves from the virus. Appointment times may also be scheduled to reduce numbers in the waiting area or you may be asked not to arrive early.
Why Are We Worrying About Flu If Covid
People sometimes think a bad cold is flu but having flu can be much worse than a cold and you may need to stay in bed for a few days. Flu can be a very serious illness with large numbers of people hospitalised with complications and thousands of deaths in England every year. Some people are more susceptible to the effects of flu. For them, it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia or can make existing conditions worse. New research from PHE suggests that co-infection of both flu and COVID-19 is associated with a greater risk of more severe illness and death. It is really important that those who are in at-risk groups are vaccinated so that they can be protected this winter.
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When Should You Not Get A Flu Shot
If you are currently experiencing flu-like symptoms including a fever, tell your healthcare provider before getting a flu shot. It may be recommended to wait until you are feeling better. People who have severe allergies to any vaccine ingredients should not get a flu shot. People with egg allergies should talk to their healthcare provider prior to getting the vaccine.
Two Vaccines One Visit
If youre planning to get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot sometime soon and the thought of going to the pharmacy twice sounds like an inconvenience, you wont actually have to make two trips: You can get a flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When people get two vaccinations at the same time, they usually get one vaccination in each arm, says internal medicine specialist Laura Dutu, M.D.Because the typical side effects that people experience from both vaccines are similar, people should expect their side effects to resemble what they have had after previous flu or COVID-19 vaccines. They should not be more intense for most people.
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How Is The Safety Of Flu Vaccines In Pregnant People Monitored
CDC and FDA conduct ongoing safety monitoring of vaccines licensed for use in the United States.
CDC and FDA monitor flu vaccine safety during pregnancy during each flu season using the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System : An early warning system that helps CDC and FDA monitor health concerns following vaccination. Anyone can report possible vaccine side effects to VAERS. Generally, VAERS reports cannot determine if a health concern that arises after vaccination was caused by a vaccine, but these reports can help indicate if further investigations are needed.
In addition CDC conducts research studies in the Vaccine Safety Datalink : A collaboration between CDC and nine health care organizations which allows ongoing monitoring and proactive searches of vaccine-related data.
If I Get Flu Can I Still Get Covid
Yes. The infections are caused by different viruses. So just because you get one, doesnt mean you cant get the other. And there have been cases of people getting both at the same time. New research from PHE suggests that co-infection of both flu and COVID-19 is associated with a greater risk of more severe illness and death.
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Possible Side Effects Of The Flu Vaccine
The influenza vaccine can cause side effects. In children under 5 years, these reactions may be more obvious.
Common side effects of influenza vaccine include:
- drowsiness or tiredness
- localised pain, redness and swelling at the injection site
- occasionally, an injection-site lump that may last many weeks but needs no treatment
- low-grade temperature .
When Should I Get A Flu Shot
The short answer is: Now. In the Northern Hemisphere, flu season usually runs from October to May. But the influenza virus is less concerned with the calendar and more with spreading as widely as possible. The timing this year could be less predictable, experts warn, given last year’s mild flu season and our changing behaviors around the COVID-19 pandemic.
Don’t try to time your flu shot for when the flu will hit. To be ready, experts recommend, get your shot as soon as you can.
“We have a normal time when we expect the flu,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor in the Health Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco. “But this year, it could be atypical or drag on longer, so that’s what people need to be prepared for.”
A similar shift in the timing of a seasonal virus infection happened this summer, when the US and Japan saw a spike in respiratory syncytial virus infections in schoolchildren, Chin-Hong said. That’s because students were being educated remotely the winter before — when RSV infections normally occur — and didn’t get exposed to the virus and build up immunity. That allowed the virus to spread in the summer, instead.
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Who Can Have The Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to people who:
- are 50 and over
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant
- are in long-stay residential care
- receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
- live with someone who is more likely to get infections
- frontline health or social care workers
Administering The Flu Vaccine During The Covid
It is more important than ever to get the vaccine this year as research shows that for some people contracting COVID-19 and flu virus increases the risk of complications, which could be fatal.
Robust infection control procedures and social distancing will be in place in all settings where the flu vaccination is administered.
You can also reduce your risk or catching coronavirus by following the latest public health advice when you are out getting your vaccination:
Do not attend your vaccination appointment if you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 or if you are in self-isolation having been identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19. You should rearrange your appointment.
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Does The Nasal Vaccine/spray Contain Gelatine
Yes, the nasal vaccine contains a highly processed form of gelatine , which is used in a range of essential medicines. The gelatine helps to keep the vaccine viruses stable so that the vaccine provides the best protection against flu. The nasal vaccine is offered to children, as it is more effective in the programme than the injected vaccine. This is because it is easier to administer and considered better at reducing the spread of flu to others, who may be more vulnerable to the complications of flu. However, if your child is at high risk from flu due to one or more medical conditions or treatments and cant have the nasal flu vaccine, they should have the flu vaccine by injection. Some people may not accept the use of porcine gelatine in medical products. This year, the NHS will offer the non-porcine injection to children who cannot consume porcine to make the vaccine more accessible. You should discuss your options with your nurse or doctor.
Is It Safe To Get A Flu Shot And A Covid
Peak flu season is approaching as the coronavirus pandemic continues, and families across the country are on the lookout for fevers, congestion and other symptoms.
As youre scheduling a flu shot, you might be wondering can I get vaccinated against the flu and COVID-19 at the same time?
Health officials, doctors and other medical providers are letting Americans know that you can safely get your flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine at the same time.
The great news is yes, you can get both vaccines at the same time or in close proximity to each other. Whatever works best for you, Dr. Lisa Maragakis, senior director of infection prevention for the Johns Hopkins Health System, told USA TODAY.
Heres what you need to know if youre looking to get your COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot at the same time.
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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:
Where And When To Get The Flu Vaccine
The flu shot is widely available, and many health care clinics allow patients the option of an injection vaccine, a nasal vaccine, or a flu vaccine that is free of egg ingredients, which can cause an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to eggs. Websites like vaccinefinder.org allow you to choose between different types of vaccinations and find participating health care locations that carry your preferred method.
If you’re on a private insurance plan, your plan will most likely cover a flu vaccination, many times without a co-pay. Local pharmacies, hospitals, and primary care doctors can all provide vaccinations that will likely be free with your health insurance. Most major pharmacies also accept Medicare and Medicaid as payment for the flu vaccine.
If you don’t have insurance, don’t fear. Many pharmacies offer deeply discounted flu shots for those who need to pay cash. Colleges, health departments, and VA health care facilities also offer free or low-cost flu shots, so you won’t have to pay more than you can afford to stay safe and help protect others this year.
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How The Flu Vaccine Works
The flu viruses change every year because the influenza virus has a unique ability to change its surface structure. This means that even if you had influenza or an immunisation one year, your bodys immune system might be unable to fight the changed version of the virus that will be circulating the following year.
Each year, a new vaccine is developed and is available for those who wish to be immunised. The seasonal flu vaccine includes protection against four strains of influenza.
Recent evidence suggests optimal protection against the flu occurs within the first 3-4 months following vaccination.
Considerations For Getting A Covid
Its safe for your health care provider to administer a COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccines. If youre 12 years of age or older, you may get the flu shot at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine. You may also get it any time before or after you receive the flu shot.
For children aged 5 to 11, the National Advisory Council on Immunization recommends a 14-day interval between a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines. This is to help better monitor for possible side effects from COVID-19 vaccines. Provinces and territories will decide on an interval for this age group as part of their vaccination programs.
Talk to a health care provider or consult your provincial or territorial public health authority for the latest guidance.
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Who Can Get The Flu Vaccine
The flu vaccine is given to people who:
- are 50 and over
- have certain health conditions
- are pregnant
- are in long-stay residential care
- receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
- live with someone who’s at high risk from coronavirus
- frontline health or social care workers
Due to high demand for the flu vaccine, there may be some delays getting a vaccination appointment. Your GP surgery or pharmacy should be able to tell you when more appointments are available.
Where Should A Pregnant Person Get Vaccinated
There are many different options for pregnant people to receive a flu shot, including a health care providers office, at work, a pharmacy, some stores, or a supermarket. All these places give flu vaccines that are licensed and approved for use in the United States. If youve never had a problem when previously receiving a flu vaccine, then there is no reason you cant get a flu vaccine at work or a supermarket.
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