According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), each year in the United States:

• 5-20% of the population get influenza or the "flu."
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from the flu or its complications
• about 36,000 people die from influenza


The single most effective way to prevent the flu is by getting the "flu shot," or an influenza immunization.  The effectiveness of the immunization depends on the age and health status of the individual as well as the similarity between the circulating strains of virus and the vaccine.  October or November is usually the best time to get immunized but immunization can occur throughout the flu season.
 

The CDC recommends that the following groups of people have first priority for the influenza shot:

• All children ages six to 59 months old
• Children six months to 18 years old on chronic aspirin therapy
• Women who will be pregnant during the flu season
• Anyone two years to 64 years old with a chronic medical condition such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, asthma, diabetes, or anemia and other blood disorders
• People with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders, or other nerve or muscle disorders)
• Residents of nursing homes & long-term facilities
• Adults ages 50 years and older
• Healthcare workers involved in direct patient care
• Out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of children six months or younger
Common Misconceptions & Fears about the Influenza Vaccine
The vaccine is not safe during pregnancy- The vaccine is, in fact, recommended for all pregnant women and those who will be pregnant during the flu season.

Flu vaccine gives me the flu- The vaccine cannot "give" someone the flu because it has been inactivated.  However, some people have vigorous immune responses to the vaccination and may misinterpret this response as the "flu."

I got the flu shot and still got the flu- The vaccine may not be 100% effective in all patient populations but having had the vaccine may reduce severity of the symptoms and help prevent many of the serious complications of the flu.  Also, the vaccine only protects against the most potential viral strains of influenza.  Oftentimes we mislabel any fall-winter-spring respiratory illness or gastrointestinal illness as the "flu."

The flu shot causes Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)- Influenza vaccination has not been statistically associated with GBS, a neuromuscular disorder.  Large database evaluations have demonstrated a theoretical maximum of 1 case of GBS attributed to each 1 million doses of influenza vaccine.

Contraindications to receiving the flu vaccine include previous development of Guillain-Barre syndrome, serious allergic reaction to chicken eggs, and sensitivity to the preservative thimerosal.

For more information, contact your healthcare provider. For more information or for information in other languages, visit www.cdc.gov/flu

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