What Do You Need For A Flu Shot

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.

What Are Other Ways I Can Protect Against The Flu

In addition to your yearly flu vaccine, there are a few other things you can do to protect your family and yourself from the flu. There are daily precautions you can take such as limiting contact with sick people as much as possible and washing your hands with soap and water often. If you have received a prescription for flu antiviral medications, it’s important to take them as directed by your health care provider.

But remember, the number one way to protect you and your family against the flu virus is to get vaccinated every year.

Who Should Get A Flu Vaccine This Season

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of serious complications from influenza. A full listing of people at Higher Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications is available.

Flu vaccination has important benefits. It can reduce flu illnesses, doctors visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths.

Different flu vaccines are approved for use in different groups of people.

• There are flu shots approved for use in children as young as 6 months old and flu shots approved for use in adults 65 years and older.
• Flu shots also are recommended for pregnant people and people with certain chronic health conditions.
• The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved for use in non-pregnant people who are 2 years through 49 years of age. People who are pregnant and people with certain medical conditions should not receive the nasal spray flu vaccine.

There are many vaccine options to choose from. CDC does not recommend any one flu vaccine over another. 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 flu vaccine to get, talk to your doctor or other health care professional. More information is available at Who Should Get Vaccinated.

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How Does The Flu Spread

Person to Person

People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

To avoid this, people should stay away from sick people and stay home if sick. It is also important to wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub if hands are not visibly soiled. Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick should not be shared without washing thoroughly first. Eating utensils can be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap and do not need to be cleaned separately. Further, frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at home, work and school, especially if someone is ill.

The Flu is Contagious

How Long Does The Polio Vaccine Last

The vaccine protects you for 10 years and you will need a booster to remain protected after this time.

Polio has been rare in the UK so most people only get boosters when travelling to countries with a risk of polio.

There are only two countries in which polio is considered endemic – meaning it is regularly found – and those are Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Check before travelling if you need to get the booster, especially to parts of Asia or Africa, and remember you will need this at least two weeks before you go.

If it’s your first jab, you will need several doses in order to be fully vaccinated so factor time to allow for this or your holiday may be cancelled.

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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.

Can I Get A Passenger Locator Card Through Ivisacom

Getting the Passenger Locator Form can be a tedious task, but through the following three quick steps, your application will be ready in no time:

• Complete the online form with your personal information.
• Check your answers to proofread all the details you have added to the form. Once you have done that, select your preferred processing time and make the payment.
• Upload any essential document as asked in the form. iVisa.com will send you the processed Passenger Locator Card to your email address as soon as it is approved. With these simple steps, your application process is completed.

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Who Should Not Get The Flu Vaccine

Children younger than 6 months are too young to receive a flu vaccine.

If you are interested in the influenza vaccine nasal spray, there are a few more things to know. Because it contains a live virus, you should not get the influenza nasal spray if you are pregnant, have a weakened immune system or are in close contact with persons who have a weakened immune system , or have taken an influenza antiviral medication within the last 48 hours.

Children and adolescents who receive aspirin or salicylate-containing medication should not receive the influenza nasal spray, nor should young children who have experienced an episode of wheezing in the last 12 months or who have been diagnosed with asthma. People with chronic health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or diabetes should talk with their health care provider before receiving the influenza nasal spray.

Flu Vaccine Ingredients: The Strains

Every year, vaccine developers take virus samples from labs across the world and mix and match them. This years vaccine relies on four viruses this is called a quadrivalent vaccine. The four viruses in the vaccine are somewhat different for the three different types of flu vaccines, which are egg-based , recombinant, and egg-free.

Those viruses are

Apdm09

First, lets break down the terminology: A refers to the type of influenza that infects birds, humans, pigs, horses, seals, and dogs H#N# refers to the different proteins found in the outer shell of the virus pdm is short for pandemic and 09 is the year of said pandemic .

This years Apdm09 component is different for flu vaccines that are egg-based compared to those that are cell-based and recombinant-based. For egg-based vaccines, the component changed from an A/Guangdong-Maonan/SWL1536/2019 pdm09-like virus to an A/Victoria/2570/2019pdm09-like virus. That means a flu strain akin to the one seen in the 2009 pandemic that was created in 2019 in a lab in Victoria is replacing the strain created in 2019 in the Maonan district of Guangdong.

For cell-based and recombinant vaccines, the component changed from an A/Hawaii/70/2019 pdm09-like virus to an A/Wisconsin/588/2019 pdm09-like virus.

The second component is a variant of the 2009 H1N1 swine flu. H3N2 was first found in pigs in 2010, then in humans in 2011. The biggest human outbreak was in 2012 with some 309 reported cases.

Influenza B

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Flu Symptoms In Adults

Flu-related fever appears in adults and can be severe. For many adults, a sudden high fever is the earliest symptom of the flu. It can also be a sign of COVID-19.

Adults rarely spike a fever unless they have a serious infection. The flu virus causes an abrupt high temperature thats greater than 100°F .

Other viral infections, like a cold, may cause low-grade fevers.

Beyond this, children and adults share many of the same symptoms. Some people may experience one or several symptoms more than another person. Each person will be different.

Flu Vaccination Requirement For Ay 2021

Update 11-29-2021

The University of California Office of the President has issued an Executive Order mandating Flu vaccinations for the AY 2021-22 flu season. This policy pertains to all students who are living, learning and/or working on campus and/or on the premises of any University facilty. For additional information, please visit the UCOP website here. FAQ’s can be found here: Student FAQ’s. Flu vaccinations are not available at Student Health Center for faculty and non-SHC staff.

STUDENT HEALTH PARTNERING WITH UCI HEALTH AND UCI COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES TO INCREASE ACCESS TO FLU VACCINATIONS ON CAMPUS!!

To increase access to flu vaccination appointments, SHC, UCI Health and the College of Health Sciences have partnered to provide additional flu vaccination clinics on campus. Starting Monday, 11-29-2021 and through the remainder of the flu season, flu vaccination clinics will be held at Student Center Crescent Bay Rooms and ACC Plaza Verde. Note that the flu clinics at the above locations are “by appointment only”. To schedule an appointment, login to the Student Health Patient Portal. The flu clinics at the testing sites will be closed between 12-16-2021 and 1-2-2022.

In addition, “walk-in/pop-up” flu clinics are being planned at various locations on campus through the remainder of the flu season. The next “walk-in/pop-up” clinics are tentatively scheduled for the week of January 17th. Visit SHC’s website and UCIForward website regularly for updates.

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Keeping Our Patients Safe From The Flu

Michigan Medicine has joined dozens of health care institutions throughout the country in requiring staff to be vaccinated against flu or to wear a protective mask during any patient interaction during flu season. The requirement is designed to help protect the health of our patients and their families and will especially protect the many people we care for who have serious medical conditions and weakened immune systems.

FOR EMPLOYEES: Please visit our employee flu prevention site for more details for more information about our employee flu shot policy and upcoming employee flu shot clinics.

Why Did It Take So Long To Get A Vaccine For Young Children

About a year and a half ago the first vaccines were approved for adults. Approval for a vaccine for and then children ages 5 to 11 years followed.

But finding just the right dose for the youngest children proved a little more challenging. Pfizer, which until now was the only company to have a vaccine approved for people under 18, has been testing a vaccine for more than a year but had to add a third dose to the regimen after earlier studies suggested two doses did not provide sufficient protection against omicron.

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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 exception. CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has made this recommendation since the 2010-2011 flu season.

Vaccination to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications. See People at Higher Risk of Developing Flu-Related Complications for a full list of age and health factors that confer increased risk.

More information is available at Who Needs a Flu Vaccine.

Different influenza vaccines are approved for use in people in different age groups. In addition, some vaccines are not recommended for certain groups of people. Factors that can determine a persons suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include a persons age, health and any allergies to flu vaccine or its components. For more information, visit Who Should and Who Should NOT get a Flu Vaccine.

Why Should I Apply In Advance

You will be ready for your trip, so you wont have to spend hours completing long questionnaires online or during your flight because our experts will take care of the paperwork.

Find out more about the Bermuda Vaccination Requirements | Do I need a vaccine to travel to Bermuda? in the following lines.

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Is There Mercury In The Flu Shot

Vials of vaccine that contain more than one dose contain thimerosal, which is a mercury-based preservative. These multi-dose vials have a preservative because every time a needle enters the vial there is a risk of introducing bacteria or fungi, which could be dangerous. Thimerosal protects the vaccines from contamination. Our bodies remove thimerosal quickly and easily, so it does not stay or build up in our system. Flu vaccines available as single-dose, pre-filled syringes and nasal spray formulations of the flu vaccine do not contain thimerosal.

What Are The Risks Of The Flu Shot

The vaccine may cause mild symptoms, such as a fever, headache, and muscle aches. You may also have mild to moderate soreness or redness at the area where you were given the shot. You may still get the flu after you receive the vaccine. You may have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. This can be life-threatening.

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Side Effects Of The Flu Shot

Many people report avoiding the flu vaccine each year for fear that it will make them sick. Its important to understand that the flu vaccine cant cause you to develop the flu.

You arent going to become sick because you received the vaccine. Flu vaccines contain dead flu virus. These strains arent strong enough to cause an illness.

Like other shots, you may experience some side effects from the flu shot. These side effects are often mild and only last a short period of time. The side effects of a shot outweigh the possible symptoms of developing the flu later.

The most common side effects of the flu shot include:

• soreness around the injection site
• low-grade fever in the days immediately following the injection
• mild aches and stiffness

Any side effects that do occur often last only a day or two. Many people wont experience any side effects at all.

On rare occasions, some people may have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccination. If youve had an allergic reaction to any vaccine or medication before, talk with your doctor.

What Are The Flu Vaccine Side Effects

Common flu shot reactions include redness, soreness, or swelling in the area where the shot was administered. The nasal spray could cause different side effects, such as runny nose, sore throat, or a cough. These side effects are usually mild and short-lived.

Some people may also develop a low-grade fever or body aches. Similar to the other side effects, these symptoms are usually mild and quickly go away on their own. While some of these side effects may feel flu-like, it’s important to remember that flu vaccines will not make you sick with the flu.

Allergic reactions to the flu shot are rare.

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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.

Can I Still Get Polio After Being Vaccinated

No vaccine provides a level of protection where there is no risk of getting the disease after being vaccinated.

However, two doses of IPV provide 90% immunity to all three types of poliovirus.

The third dose boosts this to provide at least 99% immunity against all polio variants.

In 2015, type two was declared eradicated so many people may have been given the bOPV, meaning they are not protected against polio type two.

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Why Is The Flu Vaccine Recommended

While the flu vaccine isn’t 100% effective, it still greatly reduces a person’s chances of catching the flu, which can be very serious. It also can make symptoms less severe if someone does still get the flu after immunization.

Even if you or your kids got the flu vaccine last year, that won’t protect you this year, because flu viruses change. That’s why the vaccine is updated each year to include the most current types of the virus.

Sometimes the same types are included in the vaccine one year after the next. Even then, it’s still important to get the yearly flu vaccine because the body’s immunity against the influenza virus declines over time.