 "I encourage everyone 6 months and older to be vaccinated against
influenza as soon as possible, as the vaccine takes about two weeks
to provide protection against influenza," said Dr. Damon T. Arnold,
director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. "Even if you
received a flu shot last year, it is important to be vaccinated
every year because the effectiveness of the vaccine declines over
the course of a year after vaccination."The annual influenza
vaccine includes three virus strains, and typically there is a
change in one, or all three strains, from year to year. However,
surveillance showed the same viruses we saw last year continue to be
the predominant strains circulating this year; therefore, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration chose the same three strains for this
year's vaccine. Despite the vaccine being the same, for optimal
protection against influenza, it is still important to be vaccinated
again this year, as the effectiveness of last year's vaccination is
decreasing.
To be protected, children ages 6 months through 8 years need two
doses of influenza vaccine during their first flu season. However,
if children in this age group received at least one dose of vaccine
last year, they will need only one dose this year because the
vaccine has not changed. This year is an exception.
"Every flu season is different, and people are affected by the
flu differently. Even healthy children and adults can become very
sick from the flu," said Karen McMahon, immunization section chief
for the Department of Public Health. "There are some people who
cannot be vaccinated, such as babies younger than 6 months and those
who are allergic to the vaccine. That's why it is important for
those of us who can be vaccinated, to do so and protect those
vulnerable populations who could become seriously ill."
There is a new type of flu shot this year called Fluzone
Intradermal. This intradermal shot injects a smaller amount of
vaccine just under the skin, as opposed to the regular flu shot,
which injects the vaccine into the muscle. For adults who don't like
needles, the intradermal vaccine is given using a needle that is 90
percent smaller than a regular flu shot needle. Fluzone is
recommended only for adults, ages 18-64 years. The influenza vaccine
is also available in a nasal spray. None of the three forms of
vaccine causes influenza.
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This year's flu vaccine is made in the same way as past flu
vaccines and has been approved by the FDA. According to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, 100 million doses of
influenza vaccine have been used in the United States each year on
average and the vaccine has an excellent safety record.
It is not too early to get your flu shot. You can be vaccinated
in September and be protected throughout the entire flu season. The
season typically runs from October through May, with the peak in
January.
To reduce the spread of influenza and other contagious diseases,
it is always important to practice the three "C's":
Properly wash your hands frequently.
Cover: -- Cover
your cough and sneeze.
Contain: --
Contain your germs by staying home if you are sick.
For more information, go to
http://www.idph.state.il.us/flu/index.htm.
[Text from
Illinois Department of Public Health
file received from the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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