Have You Had Your Flu Shot?

Have you had your flu shot? Doctors ask the question a lot this time of year. Friends and acquaintances ask the same question when somebody is sneezing and coughing. It is generally a rhetorical question, but it should be taken seriously. Even though flu (influenza) is a common disease it can be serious. It is estimated that there are approximately 36,000 American deaths from the flu in an average year, and that 200,000 individuals are hospitalized with the disease. There are years, such as 1918, before the availability of vaccine when the flu reached pandemic status throughout the world killing, by most estimates, 50 million people.

Flu strains for each winter season are predicted months in advance based on recently circulating strains. The advance research is necessary to give manufacturers time to produce the vaccine. The vaccine that is presented each year is designed to provide protection against three specific strains, two influenza A types and one influenza B type. There are two ways to receive protection against the flu. The flu shot—an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) given with a needle, usually in the arm. The shot is approved for people 6 months or older, including those with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease. A nasal-spray flu vaccine was approved in 2003. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains weakened live viruses, and is administered by nasal sprayer. The nasal spray flu vaccine is approved only among healthy individuals 2 to 49 years of age, including women who are not pregnant.

Most years the match of vaccines against circulating virus is very good. Even if the match is not ideal you should not skip your flu shot because there is always some cross protection, and those who have had a flu shot regularly will probably have some residual protection from previous years.

The journal Pediatrics says there has been an increase in deaths of children aged 6 months to 18 years from flu related conditions. The previous recommendation was that children 5 and under be vaccinated. The CDC now says that children 6 months to 18 years should be vaccinated each year to reduce the number of cases in the general population. While the most serious complications usually occur in adults 65 or older most cases occur and are spread through children.

Increasing the number of people immunized could also reduce the number of school days missed by children and the number of work days by adults. With an adequate supply of flu vaccine available this year the high risk population as well as healthy individuals should be able to obtain the vaccine. Besides your doctors office many pharmacies, non-profits and other organizations sponsor public flu shot clinics, making it easy for anyone who wants the vaccine to obtain it.

As with all medical treatments consult your health care provider to make sure the vaccine is right for you. Even with a flu shot the usual precautions apply, cover your cough, wash your hands frequently, and if you are sick, stay home.