How Effective Was The Flu Shot In 2019
The flu vaccine was 39% effective in reducing the risk of illness during the 2019-20 flu season, according to the CDC. That percentage may seem low, Vyas says, but its still important to get vaccinated.
The more people who receive the vaccine, the better the herd immunity which results, she explains. The immunity from everyone who receives this vaccine in a community protects our most vulnerable persons, those who cannot receive it, including the very young or people whom other factors prevent them from obtaining a flu vaccine.
Three States Offer Free Flu Shots Amid Emergency
We recommend that everyone get the flu shot to prevent the flu, said flu expert Dr. Daniel Jernigan of the Centers for Disease control and Prevention.
Your best shot is the flu shot, CDC says on its website.
There’s still going to be several weeks of influenza and if youre unvaccinated, we strongly recommend that you do get vaccinated, said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, who directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Public health officials have been struggling for decades to persuade Americans to get flu vaccines. Its a hard sell. Americans in general do not like getting shots, the vaccines on the market provide only mediocre protection, and many Americans still incorrectly believe flu shots can give them the flu.
Every year, the CDC says everyone 6 months old and older should get a flu vaccine but every year, not even half of people do.
In 2007, about 132 million doses were distributed. In 2017, more than 160 million doses were. Yet every year, many doses of vaccine go unused and get sent back to the makers.
In 2010, for instance, 162 million doses were produced but only 90 million people got vaccinated.
We always have some return doses, said Dr. Leonard Friedland, vice president for scientific affairs at GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines.
“Millions of doses have been discarded by manufacturers, including Sanofi Pasteur, every year since the pandemic in 2009,” vaccine maker Sanofi Pasteur said in a statement.
What If I Have Allergies
There are different options, and the vaccine is made with such small amounts of egg that it is not a major concern for those with allergies. For those who are still concerned, the vaccine without any egg is also available, Sampathkumar said. Those who want or need an alternative can get a nasal spray instead of an injection.
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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.
Don’t Forget Your Flu Shot Protect Yourself And Others This Flu Season
The flu isnt like the common cold, it can hit quickly and last for weeks. For some people, the flu can have serious and devastating outcomes. Its important everyone in the community plays their part in helping stop the spread of flu.
Our message is simple: Don’t forget your flu shot. Protect yourself and others this flu season.
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When Is The Best Time To Get The Flu Shot
The flu shot is available a lot sooner than you might think. Sometimes, you can get the vaccine starting at the very end of August, but more often it drops in pharmacies and doctors offices in mid-September or early October.
And that happens to be perfect timing, as October is ideal, according to Dr. Adalja. This timing decreases the risk of the vaccination wearing off before flu season really peaks. But he also said that if the only time you can get is before October, that’s okay too. It’s better to get the vaccination early than to not get it at all.
While it may seem alarmist to get your flu shot ASAP, it really can save you from a dreadful few weeks or even a serious illness that sends you to the hospital. Ive seen far too many disasters in people who think they can time , Dr. Poland says. “People either forget about getting the vaccine or procrastinate it. Then they start seeing their neighbors and coworkers get sick and decide it’s time. But at that point, it could already be too late.”
Who Should Not Get Shingrix
You should not get Shingrix if you:
- have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or after a dose of Shingrix
- tested negative for immunity to varicella zoster virus. If you test negative, you should get chickenpox vaccine.
- currently have shingles
- currently are pregnant or breastfeeding. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to get Shingrix.
If you have a minor acute illness, such as a cold, you may get Shingrix. But if you have a moderate or severe acute illness, you should usually wait until you recover before getting the vaccine. This includes anyone with a temperature of 101.3°F or higher.
The side effects of the Shingrix are temporary, and usually last 2 to 3 days. While you may experience pain for a few days after getting Shingrix, the pain will be less severe than having shingles and the complications from the disease.
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What You Need To Know About The 2021
While no one knows for sure just how bad the upcoming flu season will be, heres some flu information we know so far:
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The 2020-2021 flu season wasunusually mildcompared to whats been seen in past years. This could be due to multiple factors, including higher flu vaccination rates during 2020 and the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on social distancing and hand washing. Experts are not sure if this will be the case again for the 2021-2022 flu season.
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Flu transmission rates in other countries are lower than usual so far this year. The World Health Organization meets twice a year in February and September to review flu activity around the world and recommend which strains to include in the flu vaccine. Flu transmission in the Southern Hemisphere countries like Australia can help predict what the U.S. flu season might be like. Australia had a record low number of cases of the flu during 2021. Hopefully, that means we will too.
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Even though the flu vaccine doesnt protect against all strains of the flu, its still recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months. The flu vaccine is typically about 40% to 60% effective, and its hard to predict if the current flu vaccines will be a good match for the strains going around. But its still one of the best ways to help prevent getting sick with the flu.
Can Children Age 4 Or Younger Get Vaccinated
Not yet. Fauci has previously said that he expects vaccines to be available to children under 5 by early 2022. On Dec. 17, Pfizer announced that it will be testing a third-dose protocol with children under 5 years old. A two-dose series of a 3-microgram version of the Pfizer vaccine demonstrated effectiveness in children 6 to 24 months, but not 2 to 5 years old.
Everyone 5 and older can get vaccinated. Kids age 12 and up have been eligible for Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for a while. The other mRNA vaccine, Moderna, and the only single-dose vaccine on the US market, Johnson & Johnson, aren’t available to kids yet.
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The Flu Shot And Covid
An important update regarding timing between receiving the flu and COVID-19 vaccines for all Victorians including those most vulnerable in our community.
The original recommended timing between receipt of the 2 vaccines was a preferred minimum interval of 2 weeks .
Based on the latest medical advice the preferred minimum interval between vaccinations for COVID-19 and the flu is now 7 days.
Will I Have To Keep Getting The Flu Shot Every Year Forever
For now, yes. But in the future, maybe not.
The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota leads global public health collaboration for an initiative called the Influenza Vaccines Roadmap. Right now, we depend on vaccine technology developed in the 1940s, Osterholm said. We need to get a flu shot every year, for every new flu season. In the future, he hopes that can change with the development of a new vaccine that provides long-term, high quality protection against the flu.
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When Should People Get A Flu Shot
Typically, the best time to get the flu shot is between late September and late October. However, Jake Deutsch, MD, an emergency medicine physician and founder of Cure Urgent Care, is all for people going ahead and getting their flu shot as soon as it’s available. “The earlier you get the flu shot, the more likely youre going to have immunity. It can take four to six weeks for the body to build a full immune response to the flu vaccine, so that puts you in a better standing to prevent the flu,” he says. This also will ensure you get one before they run out.
However, Mirzaian says it may still be best to wait until September. “Because of the fact that the onset of the influenza season is a bit unpredictable and immunity to influenza may wane before the end of the influenza season if the vaccine is given too earlysuch as in July or Augustthe Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that people get their influenza vaccines by the end of October,” she says.
The one exception to this is for kids between the ages of 6 months and 8 years who are getting the flu shot for the first time. Mirzaian says since they require two doses spaced four weeks apart, it’s best to get them in for their first shot now so they will have time for their second one before the end of October.
Mirzaian says once you get a flu shot, you’re good to go until next spring. “If you get your flu shot in October, you’re typically protected until April,” she says.
How Does The Flu Virus Spread Are There Any High
All the things that increase your risk of getting COVID also increase your risk of getting influenza, so being unmasked in a crowded place is probably the most risky activity, said Sampathkumar. Crowded, enclosed spaces like airports come with higher infection transmission risk, she said, so travelers should wear masks and get their flu shots.
COVID is still pretty rampant around the country. So, wear a mask, avoid touching your mask with your hands, and carry hand sanitizer with you, so you can keep your hands clean when you’re traveling, Sampathkumar said.
She said the flu virus can live on surfaces, like doors or tabletops, for a couple of hours. Touching a surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth without using hand sanitizer in between can lead to an infection.
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Staying Safe And Stopping The Spread Of The Flu
We’ve learnt a lot about staying safe and healthy in the last year, but the seasonal flu is still a concern and the best way to prevent it is by getting your flu shot
In the past year we’ve learned a lot about how to stay safe and stay healthy.
We know to wash our hands properly and sanitize often to stay home.
If we don’t feel well and to keep our distance from others but even with these precautions, the seasonal flu is still a concern and the best way to avoid it is to get your flu shot.
Remember to make sure it’s at least two weeks apart from your covert 19 vaccine to truly protect yourself and the people you love this flu season.
Don’t forget your flu shot authorised by the Victorian Government Melbourne.
Flumist Vs A Flu Shot
Most parents understand that it is a good idea to get their kids a flu vaccine to help them avoid the flu, but most kids don’t like to get a flu shot each year. Fortunately, there has been an alternativethe FluMist nasal spray flu vaccine. Since 2010, it has been recommended that all children age 6 months and over, and all adults, get the seasonal influenza vaccine each year, except for those who have some specific contraindications. The FluMist vaccine, being made with a live attenuated influenza virus, has more restrictions on who should use it.
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How The Flu Vaccine Works
Development of the seasonal flu vaccine actually begins many months ahead of flu season. The viruses used in the vaccine are based on extensive research and surveillance into which strains will be most common during the upcoming season.
Seasonal flu vaccines protect against two types of influenza viruses: influenza A and influenza B. They can also be either trivalent or quadrivalent.
The trivalent vaccine protects against three flu viruses: two influenza A viruses and an influenza B virus.
The quadrivalent vaccine protects against the same three viruses as the trivalent vaccine, but it also includes an additional influenza B virus.
Why Do I Need A Flu Shot Every Year If I Had The Flu Last Year Or If I Got A Flu Shot Last Year Am I Still Protected This Year
No. We need a new flu vaccine each year because the flu virus changes every year. The vaccine must change along with it for optimal protection.
Its not unusual to see 30,000 to 50,000 deaths a year from influenza, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. If we have a major flu season, it will be too late for you to get your shot when that really hits us hard. So now’s the time to get your vaccination.
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Dispelling Misinformation About The Flu Vaccine Sickness Treatment And Recovery
If you’ve ever had the , you know how sick you can be. Chances are good that some of the advice friends and family gave you about avoiding or dealing with the flu was wrong. There seems to be no shortage of misinformation and bad advice when it comes to dealing with the flu and the flu shot.
Here are 10 common myths about the flu.
Where Can I Get My Child Vaccinated For Covid
The COVID-19 vaccine for kids under 12 is free regardless of immigration status, just like it is for adults. It is available in pediatricians’ offices, doctor’s offices, public health clinics and places accessible to children. A good place to start would be calling your pediatrician or local health clinic for a recommendation on where to go.
Parents may also use this vaccine finder link to find a clinic that has the child vaccine available.
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Why You Should Still Get A Flu Shot This Year
Nov. 10, 2021 — The flu shot is far less effective than the COVID-19 vaccines, causes more side effects, and targets an infectious disease that most people survive, with the flu killing only a fraction of those who die from coronavirus.
So should you even bother getting a flu shot this year?
Health experts say the short answer is yes.
They point to three key reasons federal health authorities recommend the flu shot for everyone 6 months old and older:
âIt’s really important to reduce the risk of getting the flu, which is what the flu vaccine does,â says Leana Wen, MD, an emergency medicine doctor and public health policy professor at George Washington University. âThis is particularly important this year, when we could very well face the confluence of influenza and COVID-19.â
She notes that flu shots, as well as COVID-19 vaccines, donât protect only those who receive them.
Why Flu Shot Effectiveness Varies
What Can We Expect This Year?