Cdc Panel: Elderly Americans Should Get Newer Souped
What is the difference? COVID-19, the flu, the common cold
Health experts advise getting tested by a health care provider but here are some key differences between COVID-19, the flu and the common cold as told by a nurse educator.
NEW YORK – Americans 65 and older should get newer, souped-up flu vaccines because regular shots don’t provide them enough protection, a federal advisory panel said Wednesday.
The panel unanimously recommended certain flu vaccines that might offer more or longer protection for seniors, whose weakened immune systems don’t respond as well to traditional shots.
Options include: Fluzone High-Dose, Fluad with an immune booster, or Flublok which is made with insect cells instead of chicken eggs.
The panels recommendations usually are adopted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and become the governments guidance for U.S. doctors and their patients. This would be the first time the government has stated a flu vaccine preference for older adults.
U.S. officials currently say that all Americans 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season.
An elderly person is vaccinated against the flu at the Baviera Health Center, on 25 October, 2021.
“These influenza vaccines are better but are not yet the home run that we would love to have,” said panel member Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University,
Panel members said seniors should get regular flu shots if the newer ones aren’t available.
What To Watch For
Many parents worry about the possible side effects of the flu vaccine. Or they believe inaccurate myths about the shot – like that it will give you the flu .
The most common side effects that children experience after getting the flu shot are soreness at the injection site and a low-grade fever. If your child receives the FluMist, she may have a stuffy nose, sore throat or low-grade fever. She may feel more tired than normal but that shouldn’t last longer than a day.
If your child develops symptoms of a severe allergic reaction after receiving a flu vaccine, seek medical attention immediately. These would include tongue or lip swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and hives. If your child has a severe allergic reaction to a flu vaccine, she should not receive one in the future.
Do I Need To Get The Flu Vaccine Every Year
The flu vaccine is needed every year for two reasons.
The first is that your bodys immune response to influenza decreases over time. Receiving the vaccine every year helps you have continued protection.
The second reason is that the influenza virus is constantly changing. This means that the viruses that were prevalent in the previous flu season may not be in the upcoming season.
The flu vaccine is updated every year to include protection against the influenza viruses most likely to circulate in the upcoming flu season. A seasonal flu shot is the most effective protection.
recommends that children over 6 months of age receive the flu vaccine. Children under 6 months old are too young to receive the vaccine.
Flu vaccine side effects in babies are similar to those in adults. They may include:
- low-grade fever
- muscle aches
- soreness at the injection site
Some children between ages 6 months and 8 years may need two doses. Ask your childs doctor how many doses your child needs.
Pregnant women should get the flu vaccine every year. Changes in your immune system during pregnancy lead to an increased risk of severe illness or hospitalization due to influenza.
Both the and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend pregnant women get the seasonal flu shot in any trimester of pregnancy.
While additional studies need to be completed to investigate this concern, both the
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Can My Child Get Flu From A Flu Vaccine
No, flu vaccines do not cause flu. Flu vaccines are currently made in two ways: the vaccine is made either with
Flu vaccine protects your child from flu illness. However, flu shots can sometimes cause mild side effects that may be mistaken for flu. Keep in mind that it will take about 2 weeks after getting a vaccine for your child to build protection against flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend children receive all vaccines according to the recommended vaccine schedule.
The Types Of Flu Vaccine Available
There are several types of flu vaccine. You will be offered one that is most effective for you, depending upon your age, from the following:
- children aged 2 to 17 are offered a live vaccine as a nasal spray. The live viruses have been weakened so it cannot give you flu
- adults aged 18 to 64 are offered an injectable vaccine. It is an inactivated vaccine that does not contain any live viruses and cannot give you flu. There are different types available depending on how they were manufactured
- adults aged 65 and over are offered an injected vaccine. It is an inactivated vaccine that does not contain any live viruses and cannot give you flu. Usually, you will be offered one that contains an adjuvant that helps the immune system create a stronger response to the vaccine. It is offered to people in this age group because as people age their immune system responds less well to vaccines
If your child is aged between 6 months and 2 years old and is in a high-risk group for flu, they will be offered an injected flu vaccine as the nasal spray is not licensed for children under the age of 2. Some children over the age of 2 who are in a high-risk group will also need to have an injected vaccine if the nasal spray vaccine is not suitable for them.
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Should I Have Flu Immunisation If I’m Pregnant
Yes. Flu immunisation is recommended and free for pregnant women anytime during their pregnancy. This is because flu is likely to be more severe in pregnancy and affect the mother and her growing baby
Flu immunisation during pregnancy has an excellent safety record. It offers protection against the flu for the mother and her baby, both before and after birth.
Why Are Newborn Babies Not Washed
Babies are born covered in a white substance called vernix, which is composed of the skin cells your baby made early in development. Vernix contains proteins that prevent common bacterial infections. Think of vernix as a sort of natural antibacterial ointment. Your baby is born covered in this anti-germ barrier.
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What’s In The Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine
The nasal spray flu vaccine contains small amounts of weakened flu viruses. They do not cause flu in children.
As the main flu viruses can change each year, a new nasal spray vaccine has to be given each year.
The brand of nasal spray flu vaccine available in the UK is called Fluenz Tetra.
The nasal spray vaccine contains small traces of pork gelatine. If this is not suitable, speak to your child’s nurse or doctor about your options. Your child may be able to have an injected vaccine instead.
You can find a full list of ingredients in the Fluenz Tetra nasal spray patient information leaflet on the emc website.
Flu Is Dangerous For Children
Flu illness is more dangerous than the common cold for children. Each year, millions of children get sick with seasonal flu thousands of children are hospitalized, and some children die from flu. Children commonly need medical care because of flu, especially children younger than 5 years old.
- Complications from flu among children in this age group can include:
- Pneumonia: an illness where the lungs get infected and inflamed
- Dehydration: when a childs body loses too much water and salts, often because fluid losses are greater than from fluid intake)
- Worsening of long-term medical problems like heart disease or asthma
- Brain dysfunction such as encephalopathy
- Sinus problems and ear infections
- In rare cases, flu complications can lead to death.
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Why Should My Child Get A Flu Vaccine
- Reduces the risk of flu illness and hospitalization among children.
- Shown to be life-saving for children.
- Can make illness less severe among people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu.
- Reduces the risk of illness, which can keep your child from missing school or childcare and you from having to miss work.
- Reduces the high risk of developing serious flu complication especially if your child is younger than 5 years, or of any age with certain chronic conditions.
- Helps prevent spreading flu to family and friends, including babies younger than 6 months who are too young to get a flu vaccine.
Should My Baby Get A Flu Shot
Flu season is here and flu vaccines are more readily available than ever before. You can obtain a flu shot at the grocery store, every corner drug store, community centers and certainly at your pediatricians office.
Although it is incredibly easy for children to get a flu vaccine, statistics indicate it isnt given often enough. Each year in the United States, 20,000 children under the age of 6 are hospitalized with the flu. Last year, more than 100 babies under the age of two died from flu-related complications.
With numbers like these, we need to protect our children and the flu vaccine is the best way to do that. If your baby is 6 months or older, he or she should get an annual flu vaccine. Here are 6 reasons why the flu vaccine is a smart choice.
It’s safe. The flu vaccine is reformulated every year, based on the type of viruses scientists predict will be the most common for the upcoming season. The vaccine will not give your baby the flu. Babies with an allergy to eggs should still get a flu shot. We now have solid research showing the vaccine is safe for these babies.
It can save your baby’s life. A babys tiny lungs and immature immune system are especially vulnerable to influenza. For a baby with a chronic condition, like allergies, asthma or diabetes, the flu can result in hospitalization with life-threatening complications.
Source: www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
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When Should People Get The Flu Vaccine
Flu season runs from October to May. It’s best to get a flu vaccine as early in the season as possible, ideally by the end of October. This gives the body a chance to make antibodies that protect from the flu. But getting a flu vaccine later in the season is better than not getting it at all. Getting a missed flu vaccine late in the season is especially important for people who travel. That’s because the flu can be active around the globe from April to September.
When You Should Receive Your Flu Shot For Optimal Protection
Protection from a flu shot doesnt happen immediately, so it is best to be vaccinated at least two to three weeks before meeting a new baby, says Dr. Gronvall.
However, if you get a flu shot during pregnancy, this will give the newborn a certain layer of protection. Vaccination prompts the expectant parent’s immune system to create antibodies to fight the flu virus. These antibodies are then passed on to the baby.
“This protects the mother and the antibodies she makes against the flu will cross the placenta and go into the baby, protecting the infant as well,” explains Dr. Kronman. As you are more likely to suffer complications from the flu during pregnancy, a flu shot will help protect both you and your baby.
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Children Who Shouldnt Have The Vaccination
Children may not be able to have the nasal vaccine if they:
- are currently wheezy or have been wheezy in the past 72 hours, they should be offered a suitable injected flu vaccine to avoid a delay in protection
- have needed intensive care due to asthma or egg allergic anaphylaxis
- have a condition, or are on treatment, that severely weakens their immune system or have someone in their household who needs isolation because they are severely immunosuppressed
- are allergic to any other components of the vaccine
- have a condition that needs salicylate treatment
Also, children who have been vaccinated with the nasal spray should avoid close contact with people with very severely weakened immune systems for around 2 weeks following vaccination because theres an extremely remote chance that the vaccine virus may be passed to them.
What Vaccines Protect Against Flu
For the 2020-2021 flu season, CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older.
- Flu shots can be given to your child 6 months and older.
- The nasal spray vaccine can be given to people 2 through 49 years of age. However, certain people with underlying medical conditions should not get the nasal spray vaccine.
Your childs doctor will know which vaccines are right for your child.
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It’s A Good Idea To Have Flu Immunisation If You Share A House With Children Who Have Long
Flu immunisation is also recommended for those sharing a house with children and young people with long-term medical conditions. The flu spreads rapidly within households and children are particularly efficient spreaders.
It may not be free for household members – they could ask their employer about free or subsidised flu immunisation as many employers offer this to their employees. Flu immunisation is free for some adults for example, all those over 65 years of age and those with certain long-term conditions.
When Can Babies Get The Flu Shot
Babies younger than 6 months can’t receive the flu vaccine because their immune systems aren’t strong enough yet. Those older than 6 months should get the flu shot every season to prevent health complications and spreading the illness to others.
So when is the best time to get it? Because flu season strengthens in the fall and winterand because it takes two to four weeks to build effectivenessthe CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine by the end of October. However, getting the vaccine later still protects against the illness.
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Who Should Get The Shot And When
Most people older than 6 months should get a yearly flu vaccine. Kids younger than 2 are more likely to have problems because of the flu than older kids and adults. Children should get the vaccine by October of each year. Flu season usually runs from November to May, with a peak in February.
The flu vaccine doesnât help kids as long as other vaccines do. It is only effective for that particular season. That’s because the flu virus is always changing. Each year, the illness shifts a little bit, so a new vaccine has to be prepared that contains the most common strains for that particular year.
The first time a child younger than 9 gets a flu vaccine, theyâll need two doses at least a month apart. Kids usually get the shot in the leg or arm.
If your child has one of the following conditions, make sure they get a shot. They may be more likely to have serious problems linked to the flu:
- HIV or other conditions that weaken the immune system
- Treatment with cancer drugs or steroids, which suppress the immune system
- Long-term aspirin treatment. When give it to someone under 19 who has the flu, it makes them more likely to get Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
How To Protect Your Child
Of course, better than treating the flu is preventing it altogether. Children over the age of 6 months should get a flu shot every year to prevent the flu.
Single-dose flu vaccinations are now available and can be requested. These are produced without thimerosal.
Some parents have concerns about the safety and efficacy of flu shots for children. Many studies have been conducted and the results consistently show that the flu vaccine is safe and effective for children. There is no evidence that flu shots cause medical problems such as autism and ADHD.
Babies under the age of 6 months cannot get a flu shot. However, there are still several ways you can protect them from the flu.
People who are pregnant during flu season should get the flu shot before the baby is born. The flu vaccine is safe for use during pregnancy and has been shown to protect the baby from the flu for up to six months after birth.
Breastfeeding is another great way to protect your baby from the flu. Breast milk contains antibodies that help strengthen your baby’s immune system and provides protection while the baby’s body is developing.
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Why Do Some Kids Need Two Flu Shots
Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone. Because the influenza virus changes and mutates, these vaccines are necessary every year. Young kids are considered at “high risk” from the flu. They are more likely to become seriously ill or die if they get it than older children and adults. So it is even more important that they are vaccinated against this potentially deadly virus.
You may be surprised to learn when you take your young child for their flu vaccine, that they actually need two. Your healthcare provider should tell you if this is true for your child.