CLINICAL
WINTER AILMENTS
A SHOT IN THE ARM
IS NOT A SHOT IN THE DARK
Why should people get vaccinated against the flu?
Influenza is a serious disease
that can lead to hospitalisation
and sometimes even death. Every
flu season is different, and influenza
infection can affect people differently,
but millions of people get the flu every
year, hundreds of thousands of people
are hospitalised and thousands or tens
of thousands of people die from flu-
related causes every year.
Even healthy people can get very
sick from the flu and spread it to others.
An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the
best way to reduce risk of getting
sick with seasonal flu and spreading
it to others. When more people get
vaccinated against the flu, less flu can
spread through that community.
and any allergies to flu vaccine or its
components.
WHEN SHOULD PATIENTS
BE VACCINATED?
Flu vaccination should begin soon
after the vaccine becomes available.
However, as long as flu viruses are
circulating, vaccination should continue
to be offered throughout the flu season.
Since it takes about two weeks after
vaccination for antibodies to develop in
the body that protect against influenza
virus infection, it is best that people
are vaccinated so they are protected
before influenza begins spreading in
their community.
Flu vaccine is produced by private
manufacturers, and the timing of
availability depends on when production
is completed.
Source: CDC
HOW DO FLU VACCINES
WORK?
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to
develop in the body about two weeks
after vaccination. These antibodies
provide protection against infection with
the viruses that are in the vaccine.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects
against the influenza viruses that
research indicates will be most
common during the upcoming season.
Traditional trivalent flu vaccines are
made to protect against three flu
viruses; an influenza A (H1N1) virus,
an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an
influenza B virus. Quadrivalent vaccines
protect against an additional B virus.
ARE ANY OF THE
AVAILABLE FLU VACCINES
RECOMMENDED OVER
OTHERS?
Annual influenza vaccination is
recommended for everyone six
months and older with either the
inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or the
recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV).
There is no preference for one vaccine
over another among the recommended,
approved injectable influenza vaccines.
There are many vaccine options to
choose from, but the most important
thing is for all people six months and
older to get a flu vaccine every year.
WHO SHOULD NOT BE
VACCINATED?
CDC recommends use of the
inactivated influenza vaccine or IIV
and the recombinant influenza vaccine
(RIV). The nasal spray flu vaccine (live
attenuated influenza vaccine or LAIV)
should not be used during 2016-2017.
Different flu vaccines are approved
for use in different groups of people.
Factors that can determine a person’s
suitability for vaccination, or vaccination
with a particular vaccine, include a
person’s age, health (current and past)
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