Influenza Vaccine

Influenza commonly known as "the flu" is a highly contagious respiratory condition caused by the influenza virus in the lungs. Although some symptoms may be cold-like, they are actually much more serious: headaches, chills, dry cough, sneezing, body aches and fever. A full recovery may take up to six weeks. The real dangers are the complications that may arise from it and the increased risk of other infections such as pneumonia or heart/kidney failure, or nervous system disorders.

Influenza is easy to catch and also easy to spread to others because it spreads rapidly from person to person by air-born droplets that are carried in a cough or a sneeze. Under the right conditions, the virus can survive up to 48 hours on nonporous surfaces such as a telephone receiver, computer keyboard, doorknob, kitchen counter, coffee pot handle and can incubate in one day. When infected, you can be contagious for about one day before your symptoms appear and up to a week afterwards.

The best prevention is immunization but certainly a healthy lifestyle consisting of regular exercise and a balanced diet will go a long way to reducing the seriousness of the disease if you do contract it. Common-sense actions such as frequent washing of your hands and staying away from those who have influenza will also reduce your chances.

Yes, it works very well and a yearly immunization can prevent influenza in most people and even save lives. In others, vaccination usually reduces the severity of the illness should you contract it.

No, the vaccine can not give you "the flu". The vaccine meets the highest standards and does indeed contain part of the virus but it is dead and cannot harm you.

Each year the World Health Organization (WHO) identifies specific strains of influenza the vaccine must protect against. A new vaccine is then developed to be most effective against those strains. This is why you must have an immunization every year.

You are part of a high risk group if you:

• are 65 years old and older.
• are an adult or child (6 months+) suffering with long-term illnesses such as: AIDS, anaemia, cancer, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, heart conditions, HIV, immunological disorders, kidney disease, lung problems including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema.
• have a medical condition and have required hospitalization in the past year.
• are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy during the influenza season.
• are a child or adolescent (6 months to 18 years) on long term acetylsalicylic acid (A.S.A.) therapy.
• are a resident of a nursing home or other chronic care facility.
• are a health care worker.
• are a community service worker or volunteer.
• student, teacher, child care worker or work/learn in an institutional setting.
• are a family or household contact of someone in a high-risk group.

The North American influenza epidemic traditionally strikes between November and April so early fall is the best time to get your immunization although some years the vaccine is not available until later. You should check with your doctor to see when he/she will have the vaccine available. If you do not have a regular doctor, there are usually walk-in clinics scheduled in every major city. You can also contact the nearest Lung Association, public health nursing office or your Veterans Affairs Canada office.

While most individuals do not experience any side effects, for those who do, the symptoms tend to be limited to slight swelling or tenderness in the area of the injection for a couple of days. Mild fever, discomfort, and myalgia (muscle pain) may occur 6-12 hours after vaccination and last a day or so.

The maximum protection develops within two weeks after the vaccination and lasts about six months.

• If you have a serious infection, you should wait until it clears.
• If you have an allergy to eggs or egg products, you should not get it as chicken eggs are used in the production of the vaccine.
• Anyone with an allergy to Neomycin, or Thimerosal (a preservative present in contact lens solutions and the flu vaccine).
• Children under six months old

Here are some great Web sites you can look at:

http://www.lung.ca
http://www.fightflu.com
http://dobugsneeddrugs.org
http://www.influenza.cpha.ca
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/ (search A-Z Index 'Influenza')
http://www.canadian-health-network.ca (search A-Z Index 'flu')

As well, we suggest you contact:

the office of your family physician
the nearest office of the Lung Association
the nearest Veterans Affairs Canada Office
the nearest Public Health Office