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It’s Not Too Late To Be Vaccinated Against the Flu

Bird flu is receiving a lot of attention in the news these days, but it is not an imminent threat to U.S. citizens. The influenza viruses that commonly affect people, however, are a serious concern. Each year, between 5 percent and 20 percent of people in the United States get influenza (the flu), a contagious respiratory illness. More than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu complications and 36,000 people die from the flu each year.

Vaccination is the best way to protect against getting the flu and potential complications – and it is needed every year. While some types of vaccinations, like those for the mumps or diphtheria, protect a person for many years, the flu vaccine does not. The influenza virus is not so easily stopped.

“Annual vaccination is necessary because the flu virus is continually changing and the immunity created by the vaccine declines over time,” said Michael Koller, MD, quality improvement director of primary care, Loyola University Health System.

The influenza viruses are very adaptable. Small mutations in the viral genes produce new strains that can evade a person’s immune system. This is what happens: A person infected with the flu fights off the illness by creating antibodies to the virus. The following winter, the same person again is exposed to the flu, but the virus has now changed slightly so that the antibodies do not recognize it and will not prevent the person from getting sick.

Each year, the flu vaccine is a combination of three virus strains, which are basically the medical community’s best guess at the strains that will be circulating that year. Rarely, a major genetic change creates an influenza virus that no one has anticipated – a worldwide pandemic could result.

The flu season usually starts in November and lasts until spring. “In the past 25 years, the incidence of influenza has peaked in February more than 60 percent of the time,” noted Dr. Koller. “The second most likely peak month is January. To be prepared for the beginning of flu season, October or November are the best times to get vaccinated. However, vaccination in December or even later can still protect people before the peak flu season.”

People at high risk for serious flu complications are children between 6 and 23 months of age, adults age 50 and older, women who are or will be pregnant during flu season, and people with long-term health problems. These groups – as well as well as anyone who could transmit the flu to someone in these groups – should be vaccinated every year. Anyone who wants to reduce the chance of getting the flu can get vaccinated as well.

Certain people should not get vaccinated: children under 6 months of age, people who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs, people who have had a severe reaction to a flu vaccine in the past, people who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously, people with fever or a moderately severe illness at the time of vaccination.

Aside from vaccination, frequent hand washing is the best protection against catching the flu. Other good health habits to follow include: avoiding close contact with people who are sick, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue (not your hand) when coughing or sneezing, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

For information about getting a flu shot, call (708) 216-8563.