What Are The Symptoms Of Sirvaand How Is It Treated
While dull muscle ache pain after a vaccine injection is common, it usually disappears on its own with days. With SIRVA, on the other hand, an individual will usually start feeling pain within 48 hours of the vaccination, and doesnt improve.
“In patients who experience SIRVA, months may pass by, and patients will still complain of increasing pain, weakness, and impaired mobility in the injected arm. Simple actions like lifting your arm to brush your teeth can cause pain,” said Kelly Grindrod, a professor in the School of Pharmacy at Waterloo and one of the authors of the 2018 study.
People experiencing these symptoms should talk to their doctor. “It’s important that we learn to recognize these signs of SIRVA so that we can access appropriate treatment,” Grindrod points out.
In order to diagnose SIRVA, an ultrasound scan is needed, which can also determine the level and type of damage. Inflammation reducing oral medications and corticosteroid injections to the shoulder are common treatments for SIRVA, and additionally, physiotherapy may be recommended.
And No You Will Not Get The Flu From A Flu Shot But The Side Effects Can Make You Feel Crummy For A Day Or Two
Since the virus is completely killed, you cannot get the flu from the flu shot this is a total myth, Eiras says. You may feel a little sick or get a runny nose after you get the shot, but these are only side effects, and these symptoms are usually mild and short-lived compared to those from the actual flu.
“If you do have that systemic response and feel crummy or feverish after the shot, a lot of that isn’t you being sick but rather, the body responding to the vaccine and your immune system revving up to make antibodies,” Eiras says. So if you do feel sick after you get your shot, take it as a sign that your body is putting in work.
Who Should Get Vaccinated And When
Everyone aged 6 months or older should get vaccinated for the flu every year, even if theyre healthy.
The only exceptions are:
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If you are currently sick with a fever, you should wait to get a flu shot. This does not mean you cant get the flu shot at all, but your provider may recommend you wait until your current symptoms have passed.
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If you have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome , you should talk to your provider before getting the flu shot.
In the U.S., flu season can start as early as September. The CDC recommends getting the flu shot at least 2 weeks before the flu starts circulating in your community preferably by the end of October. But you can get vaccinated later in the flu season too.
It takes about 2 weeks after you get the flu shot for you to be protected against the flu. Everyone needs a new flu vaccine every year, as immunity wears off after about 6 months.
Children whove never had a flu vaccine before need 2 doses 4 weeks apart to be fully protected.
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When Were Flu Vaccines First Created And Approved For Use In The Us
Tran: The influenza virus was first isolated in people in the 1930s. The first flu vaccine was developed in the 1940s to support the U.S. Army during World War II because the flu was causing so much illness and death at that time. It wasn’t until 1945 that the first flu vaccine was licensed for use in civilians.
I Hear The Flu Shot Doesn’t Work
It’s complicated. The influenza virus isnt the only virus that creates similar symptoms.
You might get a flu shot and still get a common cold, which can feel a lot like the flu. Because of this, some people think the flu shot didnt work, even though it did.
Its important to remember that no medicine is 100% effective, 100% of the time. That said, youre much less likely to get the flu if you get the flu shot.
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Ok But What Else Is In The Flu Shot
The influenza vaccine doesn’t only contain inactive or parts of the flu virus. While there is not one flu shot ingredient listsince multiple flu shots are on offer every yearthere are certain flu shot components that youre likely to see if you look up whats in the flu shot of your choosing. Below is a list of some of the components of many flu shots.
This Is Exactly When You Should Get The Flu Shot According To Experts
While the flu virus is present year round, flu season in the United States kicks up around the beginning of October, and according to Jena Sussex-Pizula, MD, at the University of Southern California, you should get the flu shot as soon as possible, before the season begins.
“It takes about two weeks to get full protection from a flu shot, so getting it before flu starts spreading in the community is key,” Dr. Sussex-Pizula told POPSUGAR. “The shot is available now and is almost always covered by even the most basic health insurance plans.” You can even get the vaccine for free at many pharmacies.
If you miss that window, make an appointment sooner than later – getting the vaccine by the end of October will grant you protection before flu cases peak, explained Honore Lansen, MD, of One Medical. “But better late than never: if December rolls around and you haven’t gotten your flu shot yet, don’t hesitate,” Dr. Lansen said. “The flu shot is available throughout flu season and isn’t any less effective in later months.”
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National Influenza Vaccination Week: Dec 5
This annual observance is a reminder to everyone 6 months and older that theres still time to get vaccinated against flu. Since flu viruses are constantly changing and protection from vaccination decreases over time, getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to prevent flu. Flu vaccines are the only vaccines that protect against flu and are proven to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death.
The Strains In The Vaccine Are Based On An Estimation So Sometimes They Wont Be A Perfect Match With The Strains That End Up Circulating The Shot Still Provides Protection Though
“The strains included in the flu vaccine are based on a complicated algorithm which the CDC plays a large role in, Eiras says. It takes surveillance data for strains infecting people in other parts of the world at the beginning of the year, and uses that data to predict which strains will circulate later in the year during flu season in the US. That being said, this estimate isn’t always perfect and sometimes the strains in the vaccine aren’t a perfect match for the ones that pop up during flu season, which can reduce the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The flu also mutates rapidly, Eiras says, which means that during those six months between the time scientists make a prediction and when the flu shot is ready, the prevailing strain might change. The good news is that even if the vaccine misses one strain, itll still protect against the two to three other ones. Additionally, the antibodies your body makes in response to the flu shot can sometimes protect against other, different strains this is called cross-protection and its another way that the vaccine can reduce flu-related complications.
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Have There Been Any Recent Updates To The Way Flu Vaccines Are Developed
Tran: Before the pandemic began, the government already was trying to develop a universal flu vaccine that would work on many different influenza strains. It’s an exciting time in the development of vaccines. Because of the pandemic, scientists are finding new ways to develop vaccines more efficiently, which will help us in the future.
Flu Vaccines For Older Adults
Age is an important factor to consider, as different vaccines are approved for different age groups. If youre 65 years or older, any flu vaccine approved for your age group is fine. But you may have heard about a high-dose flu shot.
One high-dose flu vaccine Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent contains a higher dose of virus antigen. It is meant to give a better immune response against the flu to people over the age of 65 . This flu vaccine provides better protection against hospitalization than the regular dose. However, its not the only recommended flu vaccine for older adults.
Currently, the CDC recommends people over 65 be vaccinated with one of the following flu vaccines every year:
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A high-dose flu vaccine
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An adjuvant flu vaccine
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A recombinant flu vaccine
Its important to note that if one of these flu vaccines is unavailable, you should still get vaccinated with another approved vaccine for your age group. All flu vaccines will provide protection regardless of your age.
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It Is Safe For Pregnant Women To Get The Flu Vaccine And It Can Also Protect The Baby From Getting The Flu After Birth
The CDC recommends that pregnant women get the flu shot during any trimester since they are more susceptible to developing a severe illness from the flu than women who arent pregnant.
Additionally, the flu shot can provide extra protection for the newborn baby. During pregnancy, mothers pass the antibodies to the baby, and that can protect them during the first few months after birth. Any of the trivalent or quadrivalent shots are safe for pregnant women, but you should always consult your doctor first to decide which one is right for you depending on your individual health and allergies.
Find Out Exactly Whats In The Flu Shot For 2021
Theres been a lot of talk about vaccines and vaccine ingredients lately thanks to the COVID-19 vaccine. And now that flu season upon us, its only natural to wonder about whats in your flu vaccine, too.
Like the COVID-19 vaccines, there are several types of seasonal flu vaccines. Some are egg-based, for example, while others are egg-free. There are also differences between the flu shot and nasal mist, and small nuances with high-dose flu vaccines and regular vaccines. For this flu season, the Food and Drug Administration has released nine different lots of the flu vaccine, and each is slightly different with its own ingredients. Still, they have a lot in common.
The flu vaccines are very similar in their general composition, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, M.D., a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. However, some use different technologies.
Sowhats in your seasonal flu vaccine and why? Experts break it down.
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Everything You Need To Know About The Flu Shot
Copyright: zurijeta / 123RF Stock Photo
With the temperature cooling down, that means it’s time for cold and flu season again. This year, it’s more important than ever to get a flu shot. It won’t protect you against Covid-19, but it can reduce your risk of getting the flu. Getting your flu shot can also keep you from having to visit a hospital, which keep nurses and doctors available to care for patients with Covid-19.
There are a couple of things you can do to avoid getting sick, like washing your hands. If you’re not sure how to wash your hands the right way , we’ve got some great handwashing tips!
But one thing that can really help is getting your flu shot. But how exactly does the flu shot work?
Flu Shot Ingredients: Are They Safe What Parents Need To Know
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The most effective way to prevent the flu or complications from the flu is getting your child the flu vaccine. Most children receive the flu shot every year as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends. But some parents have questions or concerns about the flu vaccine.
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What Protection Does A Flu Vaccine Provide If I Do Get Sick With Flu
Some people who get vaccinated may still get sick. However, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick:
- A 2017 study showed that flu vaccination reduced deaths, intensive care unit admissions, ICU length of stay, and overall duration of hospitalization among hospitalized flu patients.
- Another study in 2018 showed that a vaccinated adult who was hospitalized with flu was 59% less likely to be admitted to an intensive care unit than someone who had not been vaccinated. Among adults in the ICU with flu, vaccinated patients on average spent 4 fewer days in the hospital than those who were not vaccinated.
In addition, its important to remember that flu vaccine protects against three or four different viruses and multiple viruses usually circulate during any one season. For these reasons, CDC continues to recommend flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older even if vaccine effectiveness against one or more viruses is reduced.
The Flu Vaccine Is Safe
To ensure that the flu vaccine is safe, effective, and of high quality, the FDA prepares and provides reagents to manufacturers that they need to make their vaccine and to verify its identity and potency. The FDA also inspects manufacturing facilities regularly and evaluates each manufacturers vaccine annually before it can be approved.
The FDAs oversight doesnt end there. After manufacturers have distributed their vaccines for use by the public, the FDA and CDC work together to routinely evaluate reports of adverse events following vaccination submitted by vaccine manufacturers, health care providers and vaccine recipients to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System .
Additional efforts are in place to monitor vaccine safety. The FDA partners with private organizations that collect health care data and other federal agencies to further evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the influenza vaccines and other vaccines that the FDA has approved or authorized for emergency use.
The Biologics Effectiveness and Safety Initiative is one of the programs the FDA utilizes to assess vaccine safety and effectiveness in real-world conditions, reflecting patient care and the real-world use of the influenza vaccine and other vaccines in the U.S. In addition, the CDC maintains the Vaccine Safety Datalink program, which evaluates the vaccines safety similar to the BEST Initiative. VSD receives its data from nine integrated health care organizations in the U.S.
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Is The Flu Vaccine Safe
The CDC recommends that everyone aged six months and older get vaccinated against the flu each year, noting that it’s “the best way to reduce your chances of getting the seasonal flu and spreading it to others.”
And yes, experts agree, the flu vaccine is safe. Unless you have an allergy to any of the components, the flu vaccine is very safe, Alan says. And, because it comes up every year, Alan notes that, you cannot get the influenza virus from the injected form of the flu vaccine.
Dr. Adalja stresses the importance of getting your seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to keep yourself safe against influenza, he says. It is highly effective at preventing the severe complications of influenza, particularly death.
If you have any questions about the seasonal flu vaccine or its ingredients, talk to your doctor. They should be able to help address your concerns.
Should I Get The Flu Vaccine If I’m Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
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Years of studies and observation show that you can safely get a flu shot at any time, during any trimester, while you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Babies cannot get the vaccine until six months old. Because antibodies from the vaccine pass onto a fetus in the womb and through breast milk, you protect your baby even more by getting vaccinated.
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Pregnant people should not get the nasal spray form of the flu vaccine. Those with a life-threatening egg allergy should not get the flu vaccine, whether pregnant or not.
Sources
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Who Should Get The Flu Vaccine
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older.
But it’s especially important that those in higher-risk groups get vaccinated to avoid health problems from the flu. They include:
- all kids 6 months through 4 years old
- anyone 65 years and older
- all women who are pregnant, are trying to become pregnant, have recently given birth, or are breastfeeding during flu season
- anyone whose immune system is weakened from medications or illnesses
- people who live in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
- any adult or child with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma or diabetes
- kids or teens who take aspirin regularly and are at risk for developing Reye syndrome if they get the flu
- caregivers or household members of anyone in a high-risk group
- Native Americans and Alaska Natives
Babies younger than 6 months can’t get the vaccine. But if their parents, other caregivers, and older kids in the household get it, that will help protect the baby. This is important because infants are more at risk for serious problems from the flu.
Can I Get The Flu Once Ive Gotten The Vaccine
Even if you do get the vaccine, it isn’t 100 percent effective, and theres no guarantee itll keep you from getting the flu. Thats because the virus is extraordinarily promiscuous, according to Dr. Poland. Its constantly mutating and changing, meaning that the vaccine you get could be protecting you from four different strains of the flu but if you run across a fifth strain, you could still get sick.
For example, In 2000, we had exactly the right combination of flu strains in the vaccine, Dr. Poland says. “Then, out of nowhere, in November, there was a new strain, and people had no protection.
Still, some protection is better than none at all. With so many different types of influenza virus out there, its best to be protected against as many as possible.
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