Posts Tagged ‘Flu Vaccine’

The weather is getting cold. That only means one thing: flu season is coming.

If you had the flu before like me, it is the worst thing ever and I would not want to experience it again. One of the best ways to protect yourself from the misery of the flu is by getting the influenza vaccine (flu shot).

Here are some of the frequently asked questions I’ve encountered throughout my five years working in pharmacy:

• Can I still get the flu after getting the flu shot?
  • Unfortunately, the flu shot won’t protect you 100% from getting the flu. This is possible for the following reasons:
    • You got the flu shortly after getting the flu shot, so the body did not have time to build up the antibodies yet.
    • You got infected by a different strains of flu virus, which the flu shot does not protect against.
  • Unfortunately, some people can become infected with a flu virus that the flu vaccine is designed to protect against, despite getting vaccinated.
  • However, the 2021 data showed that among adults, flu vaccination was associated with a 26% lower risk of ICU admission and a 31% lower risk of death from flu compared with those who were unvaccinated.
• When is the best time to get the flu vaccine?
  • Since our body needs about two weeks to build up the antibodies for the vaccine, everybody should receive the flu shot as soon as they are available, typically at the end of September or the beginning of October. However, it is never too late to get the flu shot because the peak of flu season is usually in January or February.
• What is the flu vaccine and why do we have to get one every year?
  • The influenza vaccine or flu shot is a vaccine that contains a part of a virus or an inactivated virus so that when they are introduced to the body, the immune system will keep a memory of how the virus looks. When we are exposed to the flu virus, our immune system will have a specific antibody against the virus to prevent us from getting seriously ill.
  • Seasonal flu vaccines are designed to protect against the influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. They are quadrivalent, meaning that they contain four strains of flu: 2 influenza A (1 strain of H1N1 and 1 strain of H3N2) and 2 influenza B. It is crucial to get the flu shot each year because the flu virus mutates very quickly, and the flu shot from the previous season will not protect against this year’s virus.
• Can the flu shot make me sick?
  • As mentioned in question one, the flu shot contains a part of a virus or an inactivated virus. Those viruses cannot replicate in your body; hence, they cannot give you the flu. If you experience flu-like symptoms, as well as fatigue after the flu shot, those are side effects of the vaccine, which usually goes away in 1-2 days (while the flu usually lasts up to a week or longer).
• How long should I wait between the COVID booster and flu shot?
  • You can actually receive both the COVID shot and the flu shot at the same time. It used to be 14 days in between the two, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new information that the two vaccines can be safely administered at the same time

Above are five of the most frequently asked questions about the flu shot that I’ve had. If you have any other questions, do not hesitate to ask any of our friendly pharmacists.

Remember: it is never too late to get the flu shot.

We are offering walk-in flu shots. So come on in!

Reference:

“Frequently Asked Influenza (Flu) Questions: 2021-2022 Season.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 Nov. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/flu/season/faq-flu-season-2021-2022.htm.

It’s not too late to stop in the pharmacy and get a flu vaccine.

Flu season often starts in October and runs all the way in to May. Peak flu season is usually between December and February! So even if you are thinking it’s too late for the vaccine, it is not. In fact, since it takes about two weeks to develop the antibodies to fight off the flu, the sooner you come by, the sooner your body can begin working to fight off flu germs.

No one wants to be sick during the holiday season and one of the best defenses against that is getting a simple vaccine.

Sometimes, people say that the last time they received the flu vaccine, they became ill. The flu vaccines cannot give you the flu. However, if you have encountered the flu before getting your vaccine and then you are vaccinated, it may seem like there was a cause and effect relationship. The real reasoning behind this, however, is that it takes two weeks for your immune system to be able to fight off the flu. If you encounter the flu before then, your body is not ready with the necessary antibodies and you may become ill. But the flu vaccine was not the culprit.

Getting the flu vaccine saves lives. As the infograph above shows, in 2012-2013, the vaccine prevented 6.6 million flu-related illnesses and 79,000 hospitalizations!

If you have any questions about getting your flu vaccine, please ask to speak to Joe, Mark, Paul, Meghan, or any of our other pharmacists.

You can also gain more knowledge by reading several interesting articles on the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) web site:

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season-2017-2018.htm

For more information, visit the CDC’s Facebook page HERE.

What is the Influenza virus or “flu”?

The “flu” is a highly contagious virus that infects our respiratory system—nose, throat, and lungs.

A person experiencing an influenza infection may have:

• fever/chills
• sore throat
• muscle aches
• fatigue
• cough
• headache
• runny or stuffy nose

These symptoms begin one to four days (average two days) after you are exposed to the virus.

How common is the “flu” virus infection?

• Each year between October and February, the influenza virus infects approximately 5% to 20% of the United States population.

Who has the highest rate of “flu” infection?

• Infants and young children have the highest rates of an influenza infection. An influenza infection is the leading cause of office and emergency department visits by infants and young children.

Who has the highest risk for complication, hospitalization, and death?

• Adults aged 65 and older are at the highest risk for complications, hospitalization, and death.

How can I become infected with the “flu” virus?

• The influenza virus spreads most commonly to those in close contact with an infected person who is sneezing or coughing. Although less common, the virus can also spread when a person touches an infected surface or object and then touches their mouth, eyes, or nose.

How do I prevent a “flu” virus infection?

• The most important step you can take to prevent a “flu” infection is to get a flu shot. Even if you get the flu shot, you will experience fewer symptoms if you are infected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends frequent hand washes and staying away from those infected as additional prevention strategies. 

How long am I contagious with the “flu” infection?

• You can spread the “flu” virus one day before experiencing “flu” like symptoms and five to seven days after becoming sick. Younger children and adults with a weaken immune system can spread the virus for a longer period.

What should I know about flu vaccine?

• The flu vaccine exposes your body to a dead virus strain to build your immune response.
• Each year, scientists change the “flu” virus strain in the vaccine to predict the most prevalent virus.
• The flu vaccine does not contain a live virus and it cannot cause you to experience symptoms of the flu.
• It takes two weeks for your body to fully develop protection against the flu virus. You can get the flu within these two weeks, as you haven’t developed full protection—the full protection lasts the entire flu season.
• The vaccine cannot provide protection against a flu virus not covered by the vaccine. Even though the strain may not exactly match, it can still offer you some protection.
• Thimerosal, a preservative for the “flu” vaccine, does not cause any harm. Flu vaccines without a thimerosal preservative are available.

Who should not get the flu vaccine?

• If you have any severe allergic reactions to any components of the flu vaccine, please discuss this with you doctor or pharmacist.
• If you ever had Guillain-Barre syndrome, please discuss this with your doctor.
• If you are not feeling well, your pharmacist may ask you to come back another date when you are feeling better to get the vaccine.

What are some reactions to the flu vaccine?

• Patients are most likely to experience injection site reaction of pain, redness, swelling, and soreness.
• Other possible side effects include: hoarseness, cough, fever, aches, headache, itching, or fatigue.
• To help manage local site reactions, apply cold compresses. You can also take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen to help.
• If local site reactions worsen after three days or last longer than seven days, you should see your primary care physician.

These side effects occur immediately after the shot and last about one to two days.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/flu.html

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm

http://www.open-pharmacy-research.ca/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/pharmacist-giving-flu-shot.jpg

https://media2.s-nbcnews.com/i/newscms/2017_37/1282102/flu-vaccine-and-misarriages-today-tease-170913_8ef927cd65f9f91b90aca569965992dc.jpg

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/01/07/16/2FE356C300000578-3388910-image-a-79_1452183096810.jpg

It’s not too late to stop in the pharmacy and get a flu vaccine.

Flu season often starts in October and runs all the way in to May. Peak flu season is usually between December and February! So even if you are thinking it’s too late for the vaccine, it is not. In fact, since it takes about two weeks to develop the antibodies to fight off the flu, the sooner you come by, the sooner your body can begin working to fight off flu germs.

No one wants to be sick during the holiday season and one of the best defenses against that is getting a simple vaccine.

Sometimes, people say that the last time they received the flu vaccine, they became ill. The flu vaccines cannot give you the flu. However, if you have encountered the flu before getting your vaccine and then you are vaccinated, it may seem like there was a cause and effect relationship. The real reasoning behind this, however, is that it takes two weeks for your immune system to be able to fight off the flu. If you encounter the flu before then, your body is not ready with the necessary antibodies and you may become ill. But the flu vaccine was not the culprit.

Getting the flu vaccine saves lives. As the infograph below explains, in 2012-2013, the vaccine prevented 6.6 million flu-related illnesses and 79,000 hospitalizations!

If you have any questions about getting your flu vaccine, please ask to speak to Jennifer, Joe, Mark, or any of our other pharmacists.

You can also gain more knowledge by reading several interesting articles on the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) web site:

1. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm
2. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/freeresources/general/factsheet-whats-new-2016-17.pdf
3. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/current.htm