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INACTIVATED INFLUENZA VACCINE WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Who should get inactivated influenza vaccine? Influenza vaccine can be give to people 6 months of age and older. It is recommended for people who are at risk of serious influenza or its complications, and for people who can spread influenza to those at high risk (including all household members):

People at high risk for complications from influenza:

All children 6-23 months of age
People 65 years of age and older
Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions.
People who have long-term health problems with: heart disease, lung disease, asthma, kidney disease, metabolic disease, such as diabetes, anemia, and other blood disorders.
People with certain conditions (such as neuromuscular disorders) that can cause breathing problems.
People with a weakened immune system due to: HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system, long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids, cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs.
People 6 months to 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment (these people could develop Reye Syndrome if they got influenza).
Women who will be pregnant during influenza season.

People who can spread influenza to those at high risk:

Household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants from 0-23 months of age.
Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza.

Influenza vaccine is also recommended for adults 50-64 years of age and anyone else who wants to reduce their chance or catching influenza.

An annual flu shot should be considered for: People who provide essential community services, people living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions, to prevent outbreaks, and people at high risk of influenza complications who travel to the Southern hemisphere between April and September, or to the tropics or in organized tourist groups at any time.

When should I get influenza vaccine? The best time to get influenza is in October or November. Influenza season usually peaks in February, but it can peak any time from November through May. So getting the vaccine in December, or even later, can be beneficial in most years.

Some people should get their flu shot in October or earlier: people 50 years of age and older, younger people at high risk from influenza and its complications (including children 6-23 months of age), household contacts of people at high risk, health care workers, and children younger than 9 years of age getting influenza vaccine for the first time.

Most people need one flu shot each year. Children younger than 9 years of age getting influenza vaccine for the first time should get 2 doses, given at least one month apart.

Some people should talk with a doctor before getting influenza vaccine

Some people should not get5 inactivated influenza vaccine or should wait before getting it.

*Tell your doctor if you have nay severe (life-threatening) allergies. Allergic reactions to influenza vaccine are rare.

*Influenza vaccine virus is grown in eggs. People with a severe egg allergy should not get the vaccine.

*A sever allergy to any vaccine component is also a reason to not get the vaccine.

*If you have had a sever reaction after a previous dose of influenza vaccine, tell your doctor.

*Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barr' Syndrome ( a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS). You may be able to get the vaccine, but your doctor should help you make the decision.

*People who are moderately or severely ill should usually wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine. If you are ill, talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the vaccination. People with mild illness can usually get the vaccine.

What are the risks from inactivated influenza vaccine? A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Serious problems from influenza vaccine are very rare. The viruses in inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get influenza from the vaccine.

Mild problems: soreness, redness, swelling where the shot was given, fever and aches.

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.

Severe problems: Life threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot. In 1976, a certain type of influenza (swine flu) vaccine was associated with Guillian-Barre' Syndrome (GBS). Since then, flu vaccines have not bee clearly linked to GBS. However, if there is a risk of GBS from current flu vaccines, it would be no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated. This is much lower than the risk of severe influenza, which can be prevented by vaccination.

What if there is a severe reaction?

What should I look for? Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness, or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.