Influenza: What You Should Know
Influenza vaccine is given every year because the strains
of influenza viruses that circulate every year are different. The
influenza viruses are unique and have the ability to change the proteins
that reside on the surface of the virus. These changes mean that people
naturally infected or immunized against influenza each year are usually
not protected the next year.
There
are two types of influenza vaccine: 1) inactivated (killed) vaccine
given by injection into the muscle and 2) live, attenuated (weakened)
influenza vaccine sprayed into the nostrils. The inactivated vaccine
may cause soreness, redness, or swelling at the injection site, fever,
or body aches. If these problems occur they usually begin soon after
the shot and last 1-2 days. The viruses in the inactivated vaccine have
been killed so you CANNOT get influenza from the vaccine. The
live (weakened) vaccine may cause: runny nose, nasal congestion, cough,
or headache in children, adolescents, and adults. Adults may also
experience chills, tiredness/weakness, and sore throat. Children and
adolescents may have a fever, wheezing, muscle aches, abdominal pain, or
occasional vomiting or diarrhea.
There
is one potentially serious side affect. Because the influenza vaccine
is made in eggs, the vaccine contains small quantities of egg protein.
People allergic to eggs can possible have severe, and rarely fatal,
allergic reaction. Some people should not get inactivated influenza
vaccine: Anyone with a severe, life-threatening allergy to any
component in the influenza vaccine or a previous severe reaction to an
influenza vaccine. Persons with a previous history of Guillain-Barre
Syndrome ( a temporary form of weakness/paralysis) should not receive
the vaccine either. The live, intranasal vaccine is not licensed for
everyone so talk with your health care provider to find out if you are
eligible
Influenza vaccine will prevent about 70 to 90 of every 100 people who
will receive the vaccination from developing moderate to severe
influenza infection. It does take up to 2 weeks for protection to
develop. Protection lasts up to a year. Most at risk for influenza are
children and people older than age 50 years as well as people with
asthma, chronic disease of the lung, heart, or kidneys and pregnant
women. Children less than 9 years of age who have never received an
influenza vaccine require two doses within a year.
Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza so everyone from age 6 months
through 100+ years should get vaccinated. Children from 6 months
through 18 years and anyone over 50 years are a high risk. Also, people
that have a weakened immune system, have long term health issues such as
diabetes, asthma, lung disease, and pregnant women are considered high
risk. The more people that are vaccinated against influenza, the more
it will help to reduce exposing people who are unable to be vaccinated
because they are under 6 months of age, allergic to a component in the
vaccine, or otherwise unable to receive the vaccine.
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