Get the Flu Shot

Flu Facts

Maximum protection occurs two weeks after immunization - lasts for one year
Side effects do not occur in everyone but can include soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given
Influenza vaccine cannot cause influenza
Vaccination has been shown to prevent illness in 70-90 per cent of healthy children and adults

Between October and December, Yukon residents are being encouraged to get their flu shot. Flu shots are free for all Yukon residents.

While all adult Yukon residents should have their influenza vaccination; the following groups are being strongly encouraged to protect themselves against the flu:

Infants and pregnant women who will give birth during flu season
Parents, siblings and child care providers for young children
Seniors and those with chronic disease conditions
Individuals living with persons at high risk
Health care workers and other personal care givers who have contact with those at high risk (including employees of health care facilities, lodges and residential care facilities; personnel who have significant contact with individuals at high risk (e.g. home care workers, public health nurses, physicians and office staff).

For more information on the influenza vaccination, contact your local health centre: in the communities, dial your local prefix and 4444; in Whitehorse, call Whitehorse Health Centre at 667-8864 or Kwanlin Dun Health Centre at 668-7289.

What is influenza?

Influenza is an infection of the lungs and airways caused by a virus. Various strains of influenza virus circulate throughout the world each year. In North America, influenza usually affects people between November and April.

The influenza virus often changes slightly. Most people who have had influenza will have some protection against the changed virus. The influenza virus passes from person to person by droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Airborne droplets can enter the body through the eyes, nose or mouth. The virus, contained in droplets, can travel 1 to 2 metres in the air. It can live on hard surfaces for 1-2 days; on cloth, tissue and paper for 8-12 hours; and on hands for 5 minutes. People develop symptoms of influenza from 1 to 3 days after becoming infected. They are contagious from the day BEFORE they have the first symptoms until 5 days after the symptoms start.

Symptoms of influenza include:

sudden fever of 380C (100.40F) or higher
dry cough
aching body, especially head, lower back and legs
extreme weakness and tiredness

Other symptoms can include:

chills
aching behind the eyes
loss of appetite
sore throat
runny or stuffy nose

For people older than 75 with influenza, the temperature may be lower, for example 37.2ÁC (99oF). They may also experience vomiting, diarrhea or stomach pain.

Fever usually goes down and the person starts to feel better in 3 to 5 days. Tiredness and cough can continue for several weeks.

Influenza symptoms are different from those of a cold or gastroenteritis ("stomach flu").

Because the influenza virus is always changing, a new vaccine is created each year containing the three virus strains most likely to circulate. This means you need to be immunized yearly. The best time to be immunized is during October and the first half of November - just before the influenza season starts, because it takes 2 weeks for the vaccine to become effective. Even after influenza arrives in the community, it is not too late to get immunized.

The vaccine cannot cause influenza because the virus in the vaccine is killed. The vaccine is 70 - 90% effective in young, healthy people and protection lasts about 6 months. The vaccine is less effective for people with weakened immune systems, but if they are immunized, the illness will be less severe if they do become infected.

Since vaccine strains are selected 6 to 9 months before the start of influenza season, there is a slight chance the circulating strain may change before the season actually starts. The vaccine will NOT protect against other respiratory illnesses.

Prevent influenza with frequent hand washing

Wash your hands BEFORE:

handling or eating food or feeding others
brushing or flossing teeth
inserting or removing contact lenses
and after treating wounds or cuts

Wash your hands AFTER:

having any contact with a person who has influenza or their immediate environment
going to the toilet or changing a diaper
blowing your nose or wiping a child's nose
coughing or sneezing
handling garbage

Children should wash their hands after playing with toys shared with other children.

How to wash hands:

Use regular soap. Antibacterial soap is not necessary. Alcohol hand rubs are also effective
Rub hands vigorously together for at least 15 seconds covering all surfaces
Rinse under running water
Dry with a clean or disposable towel

If using a public restroom, use a disposable towel to turn off the faucet to avoid further contact with the tap.

Respiratory etiquette - "Cover your Cough"

Throw away tissues after wiping your nose
Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing
Wash hands after coughing, sneezing or using tissues
Keep your fingers away from your eyes, nose and mouth

Other ways to prevent the spread of influenza:

Avoid crowds during influenza season
Visit those who have influenza only if necessary, and stand more than 3 feet away from them
Keep personal items separate if a household member has influenza. Clean surfaces around them often with a detergent cleanser
Do not share personal items or drinks

Stay well

Drink plenty of water
Don't smoke
Exercise regularly
Take a multivitamin daily, if you are an older adult
Decrease stress, stay optimistic and be socially active

Be prepared

Everyone should plan ahead in case they become ill with influenza. This is especially important if you live alone, are a single parent or a caregiver.

Have enough fluids and other supplies, such as tissues, on hand to last 1 to 2 weeks
Have medication for fever and a thermometer handy
Know what options are available at work when you are ill, for example working from home
Have a backup caregiver for loved ones

Here are some tips to help you look after yourself if you get the flu

Rest
Avoid contact with others while contagious (5 days) if possible
Drink extra fluids
Gargle with warm salt water
Use throat lozenges, saline nose drops, a humidifier
Don't smoke. Avoid second hand smoke
Talk to others about concerns and ask for help if needed. Keeping in touch by phone or email can help with feelings of aloneness when sick
Treat symptoms with over-the-counter (non-prescription) medication with careful attention to the following guidelines

Over the counter medications that might help:

To prevent adverse reactions or taking extra medication that will have little or no effect, use an OTC remedy that treats only one symptom and/or has only one active ingredient
If you are taking more than one medication at a time, check the labels to avoid taking the same ingredient twice
Try "regular strength" products before "extra strength"
Follow instructions on the label. Note possible side effects or drug/health conditions when the medication should not be used
Check the expiry date on medications in your home. Take outdated medications to a pharmacy for disposal
Keep all medications out of reach of children

To treat:

Muscle pain and fever

Use acetaminophen (the best choice for older adults), for example Tylenol. If you take acetaminophen for a long time or in high doses, it can affect the liver and kidneys; or
Ibuprofen, for example Advil or Motrin. Ibuprofen can irritate the stomach.

Cough

Try a medication with Dextromethorphan (DM) for a dry cough that prevents you from sleeping or causes chest discomfort.

Stuffy nose

Use a decongestant. Nose drops or sprays act quickly and have fewer side effects than medications you take by mouth but should only be used for 2 Ð 3 days to avoid rebound congestion. If stuffy nose continues, consider an oral medication such as pseudoephedrine. Decongestants may cause dry mouth, sleep problems, rapid heartbeat or other side effects. People who have long-term health problems or who are on other medications should not take decongestants without talking to a health-care provider.

Sore throat

Try lozenges or throat sprays. Dyclonine works best to numb the throat. Products containing honey, herbs or pectin soothe the throat.

Complementary medicines

There is some research that shows the following complementary medicines may help to shorten influenza illness or lessen its severity. Find out all you can about any complementary medications you are thinking of or are taking. For example, echinacea is unsafe for people with autoimmune disease (including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis), suppressed immune systems, and certain allergies. Follow the guidelines for OTC medications.

Tell your health-care provider about any OTCs or complementary medicines you are taking.

Adults with influenza should seek medical care if they have heart or lung disease or any other chronic condition that requires regular medical attention. They should also seek care if they are frail, or if they have an illness or are on treatments that suppress the immune system.

See a physician immediately if you, or a person in your care, have any one of the following symptoms:

shortness of breath while resting or doing very little
difficult or painful breathing
coughing up bloody sputum
wheezing
chest pain
fever for 3 to 4 days without improvement
feeling better then suddenly having a high fever or becoming ill again
extreme drowsiness and difficulty awakening
disorientation or confusion
severe earache
sudden inability to function in a normally independent elderly person
constant vomiting, especially in an elderly person

Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for influenza but your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic for complications such as pneumonia.

Antiviral medications can decrease the length and severity of the illness. However, antivirals must be started within 48 hours after the first symptoms appear in order to be effective.

Caring for children with influenza

Influenza is more severe in children, especially between the ages of six and 12 months. Children with influenza may have the same symptoms as adults, but there are some differences in babies and toddlers.

For example:

A fever can be the only symptom of influenza in babies
Seizures, or other central nervous system symptoms, may appear in some infants. Children may also have headache, vomiting, irritability and sensitive eyes
Young children usually have higher temperatures, often over 39.50C (103.10F)
About half of children three years old or younger have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain
Influenza viruses can cause croup, pneumonia or bronchitis in young children
Ear infections and red, sore eyes are more frequent in young children. Sore muscles are also common

Note: Very young children and infants may be irritable and eat poorly. They sometimes have a hoarse cry and barking cough. Children over five years old and adolescents have the same symptoms as adults.

Use acetaminophen (for example Tylenol) for fever and muscle pain. Take the child's temperature first. Do not wake a child to give medication. Ibuprofen (for example Motrin) is another option, but it should not be used for infants less than four months old.

Children under 18 should NOT take acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) for example Aspirin or any products containing ASA. Combined with influenza, ASA can cause Reye's Syndrome, a very serious condition affecting the nervous system and liver.

Dress a child in lightweight clothing and keep room temperature at 20 degrees C

Seek medical care if a child has influenza and any one of the following conditions:

is less than three months old
has heart or lung disease or any chronic illness requiring regular medical care
has a disease or treatments that weaken the immune system
takes ASA regularly for a medical condition
has a change in breathing (such as breathing fast) or difficulty breathing
is very listless and loses interest in playing, watching TV, eating or drinking
is very irritable and cries a lot
urinates less than usual, for example less often than every six hours while awake; or has a dry diaper for more than three hours if younger than six months, or longer than six hours if six to 23 months old
looks very ill and the caregiver is worried

Go to emergency right away if the child:

has severe trouble breathing and it is not caused by a stuffy nose
has blue lips or hands, suddenly becomes pale, or has cold legs up to their knees
is droopy or unable to move
is so sleepy they don't respond when you try to get them up
shows signs of pain, such as headache or stiff neck, especially if they also have fever, are listless and their eyes are sensitive to light
seems confused
has a seizure

For more information on influenza, refer to the Yukon Health Guide or visit www.ykhealthguide.org.