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This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over 6 months of age be vaccinated. If you have questions, please call us at 573.874.7356 or email flu@GoColumbiaMO.com
What you Need to Know:
What do I need to bring with me? You will be required to complete the flu consent forms and read the Vaccine Information Statement:
Last year's flu season was significantly different than previous years. There's one thing we know for sure about the flu: it is unpredictable. This year's vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common this flu season. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1, and two other influenza viruses (an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus). The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year.
Want more information about the flu? Visit www.FightTheFluMO.com
It takes all of us working together to "Fight the Flu."
Seasonal influenza, commonly called "the flu," is caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract (i.e., the nose, throat, lungs). Unlike many other viral respiratory infections, such as the common cold, the flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in many people. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a seasonal flu vaccination each year. In the United States, on average 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu; more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from seasonal flu-related complications, and; about 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related causes. Some people, such as older people, young children, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications.
Influenza is a respiratory illness. People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated.This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone over 6 months of age be vaccinated. While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
Your local health department hosts seasonal flu clinics in the fall and continues to vaccinate throughout the influenza season. Flu outbreaks can happen as early as October,but influenza activity usually peaks in January or February. Flu cases sometimes occur as late as May.
Yes. There are two types of vaccines:
About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.
Each year the vaccine changes based on surveillance and predictions about which virus strains will circulate. By being vaccinated, your body develops immunity to those strains.
The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot. Some minor side effects that could occur include soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given; low-grade fever and aches.
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 (FluMist®) can include: runny nose, wheezing, headache, vomiting, muscle aches and fever. In adults, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include: runny nose, headache, sore throat and cough.
Anyone who wants to reduce their risk of the flu should be vaccinated. Individuals at high risk include adults 50 years or older, children 6 months- 5 years old, pregnant women, and those with chronic disease. All women who are pregnant or breastfeeding during influenza season receive the flu shot.
There is a small fee for the influenza vaccine. Unfortunately, we cannot bill private insurances however we will bill Medicaid and Medicare. If you qualify, please bring your card with you. Cash or check will be accepted for payment.
In addition to being vaccinated, there are other practices that can help reduce the chance of getting the flu. This includes avoiding close contact with people who are sick, staying home from school or work when you are sick, covering your mouth and nose when you are coughing or sneezing and washing your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and warm water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
In the United States, the peak of flu season has occurred anywhere from late November through March. The overall health impact (e.g., infections, hospitalizations, and deaths) of a flu season varies from year to year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) monitors circulating flu viruses and their related disease activity and provides influenza reports each week from October through May. See Weekly U.S. Influenza Summary Update.
CDC collects data year-round and reports on influenza (flu) activity in the United States each week from October through May. These reports are available at www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/fluactivity.htm. For more information about CDC's influenza surveillance activities, see the Overview of Influenza Surveillance in the United States.
The main way that influenza viruses are thought to spread is from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. (This is called "droplet spread.") This can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled (generally up to 3 feet) through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose of people nearby. The viruses also can spread when a person touches respiratory droplets on another person or an object and then touches their own mouth or nose (or someone else’s mouth or nose) before washing their hands.
In general, a person who is infected with an influenza virus one year will have some immunity to closely related viruses that may persist for one or more years. For example, if someone was infected with the 2009 H1N1 virus that predominated during the 2009-10 season, they are likely to have some immunity that will protect them if they are exposed to that strain or a closely related strain again during the 2010-11 season. The degree of protection depends on the health of the person involved. Young and healthy people with normal immune systems will likely have good immunity against the same or closely related strains of virus from one year to the next. However, people with weakened immune systems are less likely to have immunity that carries over in other years. It's important to remember that influenza viruses are constantly changing so antibody made against one strain will become less effective against new strains as influenza strains evolve over time. In addition, there are different types of influenza viruses circulating and different variants within virus types, and the same type of flu virus does not necessarily circulate each year. For instance, during the 2009-10 flu season, 2009 H1N1 viruses predominated; however, infection with this virus (and subsequent antibodies protecting against re-infection with the same virus) would not provide protection against influenza B or influenza A (H3N2) viruses.
Yes. Some of the complications caused by flu include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes. Children may get sinus problems and ear infections as complications from the flu. Typically with seasonal flu those people who are 65 years and older have been at greater risk of serious illness and death from flu. However, during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, the greatest number of hospitalizations and deaths occurred in people between the ages of 50 and 64 years of age and people 65 years and older were relatively less affected by 2009 H1N1. However, with both seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) are at highest risk for serious complications of both 2009 H1N1 and regular flu viruses.
It is very difficult to distinguish the flu from other viral or bacterial causes of respiratory illnesses on the basis of symptoms alone. A test can confirm that an illness is influenza if the patient is tested within the first two to three days after symptoms begin. In addition, a doctor's examination may be needed to determine whether a person has another infection that is a complication of influenza.
Yes. In addition to flu viruses, several other respiratory viruses also can circulate during the flu season and can cause symptoms and illness similar to those seen with flu infection. These non-flu viruses include rhinovirus (one cause of the "common cold") and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is the most common cause of severe respiratory illness in young children as well as a leading cause of death from respiratory illness in those aged 65 years and older.
The time from when a person is exposed to flu virus to when symptoms begin is about one to four days, with an average of about two days.
That depends on the age and health of the person. Studies show that most healthy adults may be able to infect others from 1 day prior to becoming sick and for 5-7 days after they first develop symptoms. Some young children and people with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer than a week.
Each flu season is unique, but it is estimated that, on average, approximately 5% to 20% of U.S. residents get the flu, and more than 200,000 persons are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. About 36,000 Americans die on average per year from the complications of flu.
Yes. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaled powder) that fight against the flu in your body. While CDC recommends flu vaccine as the first and most important step in preventing flu, antiviral drugs are a second line of defense against the flu. Antiviral drugs are not sold over-the-counter and are different from antibiotics. You can only get them if you have a prescription from your doctor or health care provider. For more information about antiviral drugs, see What You Should Know About Flu Antiviral Drugs.
Many people use the term "stomach flu" to describe illnesses with nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms can be caused by many different viruses, bacteria or even parasites. While vomiting, diarrhea, and being nauseous or "sick to your stomach" can sometimes be related to the flu – more commonly in children than adults – these problems are rarely the main symptoms of influenza. The flu is a respiratory disease and not a stomach or intestinal disease.
Questions? Email us at flu@GoColumbiaMO.com
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