What is influenza (the flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and pain, fatigue, sore throat and cough.

How is the flu virus spread?

The flu virus is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes in the vicinity of others. It can also be spread when someone touches articles soiled with mucus from a sick person's nose or throat. Infected people are contagious about one day before their symptoms start, and remain contagious until three to five days afterwards.

How dangerous is the flu?

Most people infected with the flu recover in about seven days. However, the flu can weaken the body's ability to fight off other serious infections like pneumonia or bronchitis.

This is especially dangerous if you are elderly, or have chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease, kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, or conditions that suppress the immune system.

It is estimated that between 4,000 and 8,000 Canadians can die from influenza and its complications annually, depending on the severity of the season. Most of these deaths are among seniors and those with medical conditions that put them at high risk for complications from the flu.

How can the flu be prevented?

The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated against it, at least two weeks before the beginning of flu season. Good hygienic practices such as frequent hand washing reduce the risk of infection. Other ways to protect yourself from the flu include keeping your hands away from your eyes and nose, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, eating healthy, and staying away from anyone who has the flu.

What to do when you get the flu?

Drink plenty of fluids, get lots of rest and take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for the fever and pain. Avoid contact with others (e.g. stay home from work or school) to reduce the spread of the disease. Anti-viral medications, available by prescription, can be helpful in some cases.

How does the flu vaccine work?

The flu vaccine contains dead flu virus. It fools the immune system into thinking infection has occurred. In response, the immune system starts making antibodies, which protect against the flu.

How effective is the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is 70-90 percent effective in preventing the flu in healthy adults. It provides protection against the virus types that are in the vaccine. The protection generally lasts for 4-6 months.

Why do people need a flu vaccine every year?

There are two important reasons to get vaccinated each year.

• The protection received from the flu vaccine weakens over time, and last year's vaccination may not provide adequate protection against this year's flu.
• In addition, the flu viruses change slightly each year. In response, each year's vaccine is adjusted to match the virus strains most likely to cause illness.

Can the flu vaccine cause the flu?

No. The flu vaccine is made from dead virus and cannot cause the flu.

The benefits of flu shots far outweigh the risks. Most people have no side effects except for tenderness at the injection site. Some people may notice fever, fatigue and muscle aches within six to 12 hours after receiving the vaccine. These can last for a couple of days.

Some people may develop red eyes and respiratory effects such as coughs, wheezing, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, or sore throat (“oculo-respiratory syndrome’’). In most cases the symptoms are mild and disappear within 48 hours.

A rare but possible side effect of influenza vaccination is Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). This is an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system and results in weakness and abnormal sensations. Most patients recover fully. Your chance of developing GBS as a result of a flu shot is one in a million.

Severe allergic reactions to flu shots are rare. People who have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of influenza vaccine or who are allergic to eggs should not receive this vaccine.

Who is eligible for publicly funded flu vaccine?

The New Brunswick Department of Health provides publicly funded influenza vaccine for individuals at high risk for influenza-related complications and for household contacts of people at high risk of influenza related complications, including infants 0-6 months for whom vaccine is not indicated.

People at high risk of influenza-related complications are:

• Adults and children with selected chronic health conditions if significant enough to require regular medical follow-up or hospital care.  These high-risk conditions include the following:
  • cardiac or pulmonary disorders (including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, and asthma)
  • diabetes mellitus and other metabolic diseases
  • cancer, immunodeficiency, immunosuppression (due to underlying disease and/or therapy)
  • renal disease
  • anemia or hemoglobinopathy
  • conditions that compromises the management of respiratory secretions and are associated with an increased risk of aspiration
  • children and adolescents with conditions treated for long periods with acetylsalicylic acid
• People of any age who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities.
• People ≥ 65 years of age
• Healthy children aged 6 to 23 months
• Pregnant women, including those with selected high-risk conditions, and healthy pregnant women

I am in one of the eligible groups identified for publicly funded flu vaccine. Where can I go to get it?

• Infants aged 6 - 23 months, pregnant women and seniors age 65 years and older can get publicly funded flu vaccine from the VON or their family doctor
• Other eligible recipients can get publicly funded flu vaccine from their family doctor

I am not eligible for publicly funded flu vaccine but I would like to be immunized against influenza. Where can I go to get it?

Some physicians and private health care providers may provide a flu vaccine for a fee. For further information, call your family doctor.