It’s not too late to protect yourself and your family from influenza. Influenza peaks during February and March in the United States. Now is the time to be vigilant in protecting against and preventing the spread, of flu. Washing your hands, staying home from work/school, and covering your cough can be incredible steps. BUT:
The most effective way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated. If you haven’t had a flu shot, get one this week. Your child can be immunized if over 6 months of age, and remember that many children under age 9 will need a second dose (booster shot). Read about how to determine if your child needs a second dose <—-here.
10 Things To Know About Influenza:
- Influenza peaks in February and March in the United States. Look at the CDC data that reflects ongoing influenza activity
- Vaccination is the best way to protect you, your family, and your community from the flu.
- Children under age 5 are at higher risk from complications from the flu. Children under age 2 are at even higher risk. Children with asthma and with some underlying medical conditions are at high risk as well.
- Pregnant women are at exceptionally high risk from influenza and complications from the infection due to changes in their immune, cardiac, and pulmonary (lungs) systems. While pregnant women make up only 1% of the US population, they accounted for 5% of the country’s deaths from H1N1 (Swine flu) in 2009. All pregnant women are recommended to get a flu shot. However we know that only about 30% of moms are immunized at the time of delivery. The bonus of protecting themselves? New research shows how vaccinating pregnant women protects babies. When moms protect themselves by getting flu shot, they also prevent spreading flu to their babies. Babies born to vaccinated moms have a lower risk of flu (and hospitalization) under 6 months of age when they are too young to get the flu vaccine.
- The best way to protect a newborn baby from the flu is to have all caregivers (parents, grandparents, nannies) get the flu shot.
- People can spread the flu to others before they even now they’re sick. People also spread the infection after they have had it; they can continue to spread flu for 5-7 days in mucus, sneezes, and cough. The best way to protect yourself is to get a flu shot, and second to that: wash you hands, cover your cough, and stay home from school or work when sick with fever and cold symptoms.
- Each year 20,000 children under age 5 are hospitalized with flu or complications of the flu. 11 children died from influenza during the week of January 30-Feb 5th in the United states.
- Although flu is reported as widespread in 37 states, nearly all areas have circulating flu right now. See the most recent CDC data on influenza around the country.
- Overall flu vaccination rates are less than 50% for people under 65 years of age. To best protect our communities, vaccination coverage rates should be about 90%. We’re not there. Immunizing yourself and your family protects those who are too sick (or too young) to get the flu shot and are also at higher risk of complications.
- Flu shots for children under age 3 do not have thimerosal. Nasal Flumist doesn’t have thimeroal. Read National Network for Immunization Information (NNii) page on mercury in vaccines. I don’t believe you need to find a thimerosal-free flu shot.
Anonymous says
Should a pregnant woman get a second flu shot if she had one this season before she got pregnant? We already had Influenza B here, luckily very briefly and mildly as we had all been vaccinated. But would the protection to the unborn baby be worth a second dose?
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
NOPE! All people over age 9 years only need one flu shot annually.
Christine says
My son developed Motor Tics after his recent round of Flu shots, the neruologist said it might have been triggered by the flu shot but there was no 100% way to tell. She recomended instead of getting the shot for him, get him the Nasal spray next year. My first question is when you get the Nasal Spray since its Live can you give the flu other people? My mother in law seems to think so.
Also if its the flu shot that did trigger it, wont the nasal still trigger it? We are all vaccinated but after this bought I am a little nervous to vaccinate him against the flu next year
Sarah Finlay says
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your comment. My son developed a motor tic after his flu shot too. Did your son’s tic resolve? And if so, how long did it take.
Thanks,
Sarah
Laura Scott says
Great article and video on the importance of getting vaccinated against the flu this season! Our members (from Families Fighting Flu) know all too well about the seriousness of influenza and what can happen if children are not protected. Sadly, many of them lost their healthy children to influenza. Thank you for helping to spread the word about vaccinations!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Hi Christine,
Here’s the CDC official answer to your (and your MIL’s) question about passing on flu from the live virus Nasal Flu mist:
Can people receiving the nasal-spray flu vaccine LAIV (FluMist®) pass the vaccine viruses to others?
In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has occurred only rarely. The current estimated risk of getting infected with vaccine virus after close contact with a person vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is low (0.6%-2.4%). Because the viruses are weakened, infection is unlikely to result in influenza illness symptoms since the vaccine viruses have not been shown to mutate into typical or naturally occurring influenza viruses.
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/nasalspray.htm
Mae says
Let me start by saying I am not anti-vaccine in anyway, especially since I’m a RN. My hesitancy around the flu vaccine has always been the fact that it’s an estimate as to what strain is out there. I have never found an answer as to how it is determined what strain is put into the vaccine. Plus, I’ve also heard that once you get the vaccine, you can still get the flu if the current strain mutates. Since it’s not 100% protective, I admit being hesitant. Can you shed any light on my questions?
Thanks!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Hi Mae,
Your questions about the flu shot are held by many others. So…
1) The flu shot changes every year and the strains are picked based on estimates of flu activity on the globe and what the most likely strains will be that arrive in North America. There are usually 2 strains of Influenza type A and 1 strain of Influenza type B. The are “anticipated” so yes, some years they may not perfectly protect against the circulating strains that show up in America.
2) The Flu shot isn’t 100% protective, ever. Yes, if the strain changes that is circulating and causing illness in the US from what was in the vaccine in the US, you can still get the flu. However, often there is significant cross-protection from previous flu shots or similar strains. Often in this case, if you get the flu, you have a much more mild case. For example if I have been immunized over the years against many many flu shots (I have) and a strain isn’t that which was in the shot is going around, I may have some significant protection because of the similarity in proteins from one strain to the next and the ability of my immune system to react and protect me. It’s one of the reasons why children over 9 don’t need a booster dose. They’ve likely been exposed to many strains of flu (from shot or exposure to real disease) to protect them and build immunity.
Here’s the link on the CDC site that will answer your questions:
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/virusqa.htm
Joy says
My kids were in clinic today. They received the flu shot. My doctor said that my 3 year old will need a booster shot. She didn’t mention that my 8 year old will need a second shot as well. Do I need to have my 8 year old get a booster too?
Thanks!!
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD says
Joy, here’s a post on how you can help determine if your 8 year old needs a booster
https://www.wendysueswanson.com/crack-the-code-on-pediatric-flu-shot-recommendations/