It's still summer. Do I really need to think about influenza already?
The best way to battle influenza is through prevention, so you might start thinking about getting the seasonal influenza vaccine (flu shot) in the fall. Because the incidence of influenza is higher in the winter, you should plan on getting the flu shot in the fall to allow your body enough time to build up an adequate immune response to the virus. We should have this vaccine available in our offices by mid-October (or sooner) and will send out an update when it is available.
Can the flu shot give me the flu?
Absolutely not. The vaccine is made from inactive (dead) viral components. Sometimes, you may get a low-grade fever and malaise (not feeling well) shortly after the shot, but those symptoms do not represent a flu. Rather, they are signs that your immune system is hard at work responding to the flu shot and protecting you from infection.
Why isn't the flu shot 100% effective?
Scientists cannot know with certainty what future strains will do, but they look at previous years' patterns to predict what the virus will do this year. Fortunately, their predictions are accurate enough to make the flu vaccine about 90% effective. Personally, I'll happily take something that gives me a 90% chance of not having high fevers, severe muscle aches, and creatively colored mucus for days!
I get flu shots every year. What else can I do?
Don't forget that even the simplest measures can prevent the flu, such as frequent hand-washing, avoiding face-to-face contact with others who are sick, and maintaining general good health through a good diet and exercise.
Should I still worry about the H1N1 (swine) flu?
Although the media report every case of possible H1N1 influenza, the seasonal (regular) flu is much more prevalent. The symptoms of both types of influenza are similar and only a discussion with your doctor and specific tests can distinguish the two. Even so, the treatment is similar in both cases, and prescription medications are rarely necessary. H1N1 is still prowling among us and can be prevented using the same precautionary measures described above.
What about an H1N1 vaccine?
The CDC has not announced when or where the H1N1 vaccine will be available, but we expect to know more by October. We will send out updates as we receive more information. The H1N1 vaccine is different from the standard flu shot described above.
