It's Time for the Flu Shot
- NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2006
- Français
NHS President and CEO Debbie Sevenpifer receives her annual flu shot from NHS Occupational Health Nurse Kathy Raimondo.
Canadians tend to call many illnesses that make them feel unwell the flu. So what is the flu? The flu is a highly-contagious viral illness that is caused by influenza viruses.
Symptoms
Typically, the flu has a sudden onset with the following symptoms:
- headache
- chills and cough
- rapid onset of fever
- muscle aches
- appetite loss
- extreme tiredness and/or weakness
- Stomach/bowel upset sometimes accompanies the flu, especially in children, but these symptoms are usually not prominent.
The flu is a much more severe illness than the common cold. The common cold is caused by other respiratory viruses and its symptoms are usually limited to the upper respiratory tract (sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and throat irritation).
Is the flu dangerous?
The flu will usually send a healthy adult or child to bed for several days and can be a very serious illness – in Canada one in four up to one in 10 Canadians develop the flu and thousands require hospitalization. Approximately 1,500 people die from the flu or its complications in Canada annually.
There are three main types of Influenza (flu)
Influenza A – usually the most severe, is most responsible for pneumonias, hospitalizations, outbreaks, epidemics and deaths. Influenza A is the causative organism for all the past pandemics. Influenza B – usually less severe than Influenza A, also been associated with annual outbreaks and epidemics. Influenza C – very rarely seen and usually associated with sporadic illness.
Can the flu be cured with antibiotics?
No, because it is a viral illness. However, a physician may prescribe antibiotics for some of the flu's secondary complications such as pneumonia.
How to avoid getting the flu
Annual vaccination is the only way to prevent you from getting the flu or lessen the severity of your illness (as long as the vaccine contains the strains of flu that are circulating in your area).
What else can you do to prevent getting the flu?
Wash your hands frequently, maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, exercise, drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest. If possible, avoid people who have the flu since the virus is spread when a person with the flu coughs or sneezes.
When does the flu season begin in Canada?
There may be cases of flu at anytime, however most influenza activity and outbreaks in Canada are from November until April.
Are there other viruses that cause similar illnesses?
Yes. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and parainfluenza viruses are often mistaken for the flu. The symptoms are very similar including fever, cough and sore throat and although these usually affect young children, they can and do cause adult illness as well.
Who and how do they decide what strains to put in the vaccine?
There is a global network of laboratories that identifies specific influenza viruses as they appear all year. In Canada, this network is composed of regional, provincial, territorial and federal laboratories, which determine the prominent strains circulating within the Canadian population. They take that information and info from around the world to predict the strains that will most likely dominate the next flu season. The World Health Organization makes recommendations and our National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) makes the final recommendation for the vaccine components in Canada.
How does the Vaccine protect you?
Approximately two weeks after vaccination your body's immune system has produced antibodies against the inactivated virus in the vaccine. If you are exposed to the real virus, these antibodies will prevent the infection or reduce the likelihood of severe illness should infection occur.
Who should receive the vaccine?
- Adults and children with chronic lung or heart disease.
- All persons who reside in a nursing home, retirement home or other institution.
- Persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs or kidneys.
- Persons with diabetes, blood disorders or conditions/ treatments that weaken the immune system (such as chemotherapy).
- Persons who are at high risk for transmitting the flu such as health care workers and other essential community services.
- Anyone else who is over 6 months old who wishes to protect themselves from Influenza
- Pregnant or breast-feeding women in consultation with their physician.
Who should not receive the vaccine? - Infants less than six months of age.
- Anyone who has a serious allergy or reaction to eggs, egg products, thimerosal, neomycin & formaldehyde.
- Anyone with a fever.
- Persons with an active neurological disorder (eg. GBS, MS).
Anyone who has a history of a severe reaction to the flu vaccine or any other vaccine.
Can the Influenza Vaccine cause influenza?
No. The influenza vaccine cannot cause influenza because it doesn't contain a live virus. All the vaccines used in Canada are composed of split purified virus particles, which are incapable of causing influenza.
What are the side effects of the influenza vaccine?
The most common side effect is soreness at the injection site usually lasting one to two days. Fever, tiredness and muscle aches may occur within six-12 hours and may last one to two days.
Allergic responses are rare and are probably a consequence of hyper-sensitivity to one of the components of the vaccine. Most often it is the residual egg protein which is present in minute quantities.
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) associated with influenza vaccination is a rare occurrence and has been observed in only a few influenza seasons over the past two decades. Recent U. S. studies on the vaccine have estimated the risk of GBS is approximately one case per million persons vaccinated. In comparison, the risk of complication and death associated with influenza is much greater.
What is oculo-respiratory syndrome (ORS)?
Oculo-respiratory syndrome is a temporary and generally mild side effect of the influenza vaccination. It was first noted in the 2000-2001 influenza season and persons who experienced ORS developed redness in both eyes and/or respiratory symptoms such as cough, wheeze, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, sore throat, localized facial swelling two-24 hours after receiving their vaccination. All symptoms resolved within 48 hours. In the 2000-2001 season Canada gave out approximately 10 million doses of Influenza vaccine and there were 960 reports of ORS. Of these 960 cases 69% had red eyes with or without respiratory symptoms. Only on1% required hospitalization and there were no deaths.
What factors affect the success of influenza vaccine?
Whether the individual has experienced the type of influenza that is in the vaccine. The age, the individual's immunity status, and the length of time from vaccination and exposure.
Where can you get the flu shot?
Niagara Region Public Health Department is holding flu shot clinics throughout Niagara. Go to http://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/living/health_wellness/disease-prevent/pdf/Flu2006.pdf for a complete listing of dates and locations. Or, contact your family doctor, or go to a nearby walk-in clinic.