MVH says never too early to get flu shot
MONONGAHELA – It’s never too early to get a flu shot – no matter how old or young you may be. That point is being emphasized by Monongahela Valley Hospital as it prepares for the annual rush of illnesses that come with flu season amidst a call by federal health officials for parents to have babies and young children vaccinated.
“Flu season is a winter-type period that is dominant from late October or early November until the spring,” said Andrew C. Allison, D.O., director of emergency medical services at Monongahela Valley Hospital. “And influenza can strike infants and young children just as often as it does the elderly.”
Federal health officials have announced that young children receiving a first-ever inoculation for the flu will require two doses of the vaccine, one month apart. Therefore, parents are being urged to have their children receive the shots as soon as possible.
Allison said that, unlike last year, there should be no shortage of flu vaccine this year. Federal health officials have estimated 94 million doses will be shipped to doctors and vaccination clinics around the country.
“Keep in mind, it takes time to complete that shipping,” Allison said. “It’s still a good idea for people at the highest risk of illness during flu season to receive their shots first.”
High-risk individuals include:
– Everyone over age 50.
– Anyone with chronic medical conditions.
– Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
– Women who will be more than three months pregnant during flu season.
– Children of any age on long-term aspirin therapy.
Allison said that the Center for Disease Control has determined the most threatening strains of flu this season will include Type A/Moscow, Type A/New Caldeonia and Type B/Sichuan antigens. All of these strains can be “very serious,” he said in reaffirming the need to get influenza shots as early as possible when they do become available.
“Although the flu season may be a month or more away, when the shots do become available, that’s the time to take preventative measures to lessen the symptoms and accompanying illnesses, particularly in those individuals considered to be at the highest risk,” he said.
He also reaffirmed that influenza vaccines “are safe.”
“Contrary to some theories, you cannot become infected with influenza,” he said.
Side effects can occur, Allison said, usually within 5 percent of patients receiving the vaccine. These include pain, redness at the injection site, or slight fever, muscle aches or tiredness. Because eggs are used in making the vaccine, people allergic to eggs “should not take it,” he added.
“The influenza vaccine does work,” Allison continued. “Overall the vaccine has been shown to decrease hospitalizations and deaths due to influenza. It also decreases the severity of infections should it occur in a person that had been vaccinated. It’s important to remember that patients need annual vaccinations, because immunity may only last a few months and the influenza virus changes every year.”
Flu-like symptoms have a variety of presentations such as fever, sore throat, coughing, body and muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Complications from influenza such as bacterial infections usually affect small children and the elderly, as well as those with chronic organ ailments, Allison said. Those individuals at high risk should receive flu vaccine from their family physicians. Some health clinics in the area also provide flu vaccines.
Allison said treatment for the flu is symptomatic and includes plenty of bed rest, fever reducers, increased fluid intake and pain relievers.
“Each case is treated according to the symptoms present in the patient,” he explained.
He also explained that the influenza virus incubates in the body from 24 to 72 hours after exposure. This is followed by the “sick feeling commonly called the flu.” This general malaise and discomfort period can run from five to seven days to a couple of weeks, Allison said. Influenza generally arrives in the Pittsburgh region from mid-November to mid-December, he said, and it takes about two weeks after the shot to have patient protection against the flu.
“The flu itself is not really a threat to the health of the average individual, but severe cases can affect major organs like the brain, spinal cord and lung,” he emphasized.
The best way to avoid these possibilities, Allison said, is “common sense and a desire to take preventative measures.”
“By preparing now, by getting a flu shot far in advance of the flu season, your chances of avoiding being stricken by the flu are greatly increased,” he said.
Allison also said there are some medications that will alleviate the flu-like symptoms and advised individuals to ask their family physician about these drugs.
While most of the attention is on flu vaccines, individuals who need it should also be mindful of the importance of the “pneumonia shot” (pneumococcal vaccine) at this of the year.
Allison said the pneumococcal vaccine may be given at the same time as the flu shot.
Allison said those at high risk for pneumonia include:
– People over age 65.
– Those with asthma, emphysema, COPD or diabetes.
– Nursing home patients.
– Individuals with weakened immune systems.
For more information, individuals should talk with their physicians.