Flu season is upon us! Yipee. (Can you detect my faint enthusiasm?)Time to gear up for another coughy/sneezy/sniffly/achy/fevery winter. Need a refresher?Here are the flu FAQ’s that parents want to know.
Who should get a flu vaccine?According to the CDC flu guideline (they put one out every year), the populations most susceptible to complications related to the flu are:
- Young children
- People >65 years
- Pregnant women
- People with heart, kidney, immunity, or other disease that compromises their health
- Children have the highest rates of infection with influenza (because they are petry dishes of germs)
Is there enough flu vaccine this year?In a report published by Pediatrics just a couple of weeks ago (September 2011), it is anticipated that the supply of flu vaccine will meet the demand for this coming season.
Is the vaccine really effective?The answer is pretty complex because it depends on multiple factors, such as how’ effectiveness’ is being measured and the population in which it is being measured. Is it being measured in a lab with a test tube or by medical reports of respiratory “flu like” illness? Are we looking at 85 year old men and women who have other contributing medical issues (or co-morbidities), or healthy and active 30-40 year olds?It gets even more complicated. Science is so tricky!Do the strains of flu in the vaccine match the predicted strains thought to be most prominent in the population? Influenza virus strains are wily–they reproduce quickly and mutate often. Flu vaccines are devloped each year based on the strains that are expected to emerge as the most prominent for that season. Sometimes scientists simply predict incorrectly. That’s why there can be a shortage of flu vaccine some years and not others. Only when flu strains start to make themselves known will
we know for sure if the vaccine is a good match.
Okay, but that was a used-car salesman answer. I’m still not sure if the vaccine is effective. So is it?The CDC reviewed the various studies and took all of these variables into account. And the simple answer is Yes. The flu vaccine is effective. Especially when the vaccine matches the strains that have manifested in the general population. It may not always completely prevent the flu, but can prevent much more serious complications like pneumonia, hospitalization, and death. Overall, it is considered beneficial for the public at large.
Is the flu vaccine safe?There are some risks, but many of them have been blown way out of proportion. These are thereal flu facts in the face of all that hype:
- 64% of people who receive the injectable flu vaccine will have redness/tenderness/swelling at the injection site
- Symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and weakness can happen, but the rate has been shown to be equal to that of placebo injection
- Red eyes, cough, hoarseness sometimes occur, are mild, and usually resolve within 24 hrs
- True allergic reaction is very rare–any hives, facial swelling, or difficulty breathing would need immediate medical attention
- Febrile seizure (or a seizure that occurs with fever) can happen, though very rarely
- Though there has been some concern raised in the past with increased risk of Guillain Barre Syndrome after receiving flu vaccine, no overwhelming association has been found
- “In a study of more than 250,000 children aged <18 years, the investigators did not identify risk for any important adverse events after TIV” (TIV stands for Trivalent Inactivated Influenze Vaccine).
There are, of course, always instances in which what is good for the masses is not always good for the individual. In some cases, the risk of receiving the vaccine may actually be greater than the benefit of receiving it. Which is why the best course of action is to have an informed discussion and decision-making process with the assistance of a healthcare professional. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
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