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To get the ‘flu shot’ or not?
Tracey Phillips, B.Sc.Phm, MBA |
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October to April is flu season, when the influenza virus causes infection in the airways. Every year, countless otherwisehealthy Canadian adults and children miss work and school due to the flu. Often confused with a cold, the flu causes headache, chills and dry cough, rapidly joined by body aches and fever. While the fever declines on the second or third day of the illness, full recovery may take up to six weeks. For some, influenza leads to life-threatening illnesses like pneumonia, resulting in hospitalization and even death.
A good diet, vitamins and exercise contribute to your general health, and although proper and frequent hand washing can reduce the spread of the flu, the best protection is immunization – especially if you have a medical condition. |
Annually, the World Health Organization identifies three virus strains with the most potential to impact health, and vaccines are developed based on these viruses.
Since these may change yearly, an annual flu shot is necessary to protect against current viruses. An annual flu shot may also teach your immune system to be more reactive to unknown viruses.
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Consider the ‘flu shot’
It’s especially important for people:
- With chronic heart or lung disease
- With cancer, kidney disease, a blood disorder or a weakened immune system, diabetes or other metabolic disease
- Six months to 18 years of age on long-term treatment with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)
- Seniors and anyone who lives, works or volunteers in a nursing home, chronic care facility, retirement home or other health care setting
- Emergency service workers including fire, police and ambulance staff
- Travelling to places where the flu virus is likely circulating
- Including children, who live in the same household or in contact with people at risk, mentioned above
- Pregnant women at all stages of pregnancy and for breastfeeding mothers.
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Do NOT get a ‘flu shot’
- If you’ve had an anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose or have known anaphylactic hypersensitivity to eggs, manifested as hives, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, hypotension or shock
- For a child under six months of age. It does not work well in this age group
- If you have a fever. Reschedule your flu shot when the fever is gone.
Because it’s formulated with a dead virus, the flu vaccine can't give you the flu. Side effects are minor, including mild soreness at the vaccination site, headaches and muscle pain. The flu vaccine is available in late October for those at risk and early November for the general population. For more information, speak to your health care professional.
H&L
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