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Flu Vaccination
The best way to protect against the
flu is to get vaccinated each fall. To manufacture the vaccine,
influenza
viruses are grown in chicken eggs, harvested, and then killed
through chemical means. The vaccine is then purified and tested
for purity, safety, and its ability to stimulate protective antibody
in humans.
The strains which are chosen to be
included in the vaccine are those which scientists have determined
to be the predominant strains during the current influenza
season.
There are two types of vaccines:
Each vaccine contains three influenza
viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus.
The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international
surveillance and scientists' estimations about the types and strains
of viruses which will circulate in a given year.
About 2 weeks after vaccination,
antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection
develop in the body. October or November is the best time to get
vaccinated, since Influenza is most active during winters.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization
Practices recommends that all persons aged 50 years or older be
vaccinated with influenza vaccine every year, unless there are strong
reasons for not doing so. For example, you should not get vaccinated
if you've:
-
An allergic reaction to chicken
eggs (welts, tongue swelling, difficulty breathing, loss of
blood pressure, etc.)
-
A previous serious reaction
to an influenza shot
People who should get vaccinated each
year are:
1) People at high risk for complications from
the flu:
-
People 65 years and older; All
children 6 to 23 months of age;
-
People who live in nursing
homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with
long-term illnesses;
-
Adults and children 6 months
and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma;
-
Adults and children 6 months
and older who require regular medical care or were in a hospital
during the previous year because of a metabolic disease (like
diabetes), chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system
(including immune system problems caused by medicines or by
infection with human immunodeficiency virus [HIV/AIDS]);
-
Children 6 months to 18 years
of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy. (Children given
aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye syndrome.);
-
Women who will be pregnant during
the influenza season.
2) People 50 to 64 years of
age. Because nearly one-third of people of 50 to 64 years
of age in the United States have one or more medical conditions
that place them at increased risk for serious flu complications
therefore vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 50 - 64
years.
3) People who can transmit
flu to others at high risk for complications. Any person
in close contact with someone in a high-risk group should get vaccinated.
This includes all health-care workers, household contacts and out-of-home
caregivers of children 0 to 23 months of age, and close contacts
of people 65 years and older.
Vaccine Side Effects
Different side effects can be associated
with the flu shot and LAIV.
The flu shot:
Some minor side effects that could occur are:
- Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot
was given
- Fever (low grade)
- Aches
Almost all people who receive influenza
vaccine have no serious problems from it. However, on rare occasions,
flu vaccination can cause serious problems, such as severe allergic
reactions.
LAIV: The
viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do not cause
severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. In children,
side effects from LAIV
can include
- runny nose
- headache
- vomiting
- muscle aches
- fever
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