Flu Vaccination

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What is a Flu Vaccination

What Is Influenza?

Influenza (flu) is a very contagious respiratory viral infection. Each year in the United States, it causes an average of 36,000 deaths and 200,000 hospitalizations. The best way to protect against the flu is to get yearly vaccinations.

Why Vaccinate Against the Flu?

Flu symptoms are severe and cause people to miss days of work or school. Flu stresses the body. When serious bacterial infections occur with the flu, the body can be overwhelmed and death can result, especially in elderly and very young people. Because of these things, it’s important to prevent the flu by vaccination. It reduces the chance of getting the flu by up to 80%.

What Is the Flu Vaccine?

Two kinds of vaccines are available. The flu shot contains an inactivated vaccine (killed virus) to protect against that specific kind of live virus. Each year, the virus can change, so a new vaccine must be made for the new virus strain.

The nasal mist vaccine contains live, weakened flu viruses. People with weakened immune systems or certain health conditions shouldn’t get this vaccine.

Who Should Get Vaccinated?

An annual Flu vaccine is generally beneficial and appropriate in all age groups except those younger than 6 months. Certain people are especially at high risk for the flu. These people are adults 50 and older, pregnant women, children 6 months to 18 years old, and people with chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, lung disorders such as asthma, heart disease, HIV/AIDS). They can have serious complications from flu, such as pneumonia. Others should not miss yearly flu vaccination are people living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities, health care workers, people in contact with those high-risk groups, and household contacts and caregivers of babies younger than 6 months.

Who Should Not Get Vaccinated?

Some people should check with a health care provider about vaccination. These include people who have a severe allergy to eggs, had a severe reaction to a flu vaccination, or had Guillain-Barré syndrome within 6 weeks of getting vaccinated. Babies younger than 6 months shouldn’t get vaccinated.

What Are the Side Effects of Flu Vaccinations?

Side effects from the shot aren’t common. Minor ones include soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given, low-grade fever, feeling sick, and muscle aches. Rarely, flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions.

The nasal spray vaccine can cause runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, sore throat, cough, and fever.

DOs and DON’Ts in Getting Flu Vaccinations:

  • DOget a flu shot every year.
  • DOremember that side effects of the shot may last for a day, but the flu can last 2 to 3 weeks and can cause serious complications (pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, other lung problems).
  • DOput a warm compress on the injection site for soreness or swelling.
  • DOgive acetaminophen or ibuprofen for headache or low-grade fever after a flu shot.
  • DOremember that you cannot catch the flu from the shot. However, the nasal spray flu vaccine is made from live viruses, so it may cause mild flu-like symptoms (runny nose, headache, vomiting, muscle aches, fever).
  • DON’Tgive aspirin to children younger than 16, to avoid the dangerous Reye’s syndrome.

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