01/22/2007: "Still Time To Get Influenza Vaccine!"

Flu is in the southeast (Florida, Alabama, and Georgia) and it is headed our way. So far this year Washington and British Columbia have reported sporadic flu activity, but we are starting to see flu in the San Juan County preschool population. Typically flu hits hardest in the cold months of February and March. However given our warmer fall, the flu season has had a late start.

Flu shots are not just for the elderly or people with chronic diseases like diabetes or asthma. In fact the persons at highest risk for influenza related complications are children 6 mo to 5years, people over 50 years old, seniors, pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions of any age that make you more vulnerable. Examples are asthma, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and people with fragile immune systems. Children are particularly susceptible to influenza B. If caregivers of young children and the elderly, get flu shots they are less likely to transmit the flu.

Flu commonly presents with a high fever, cough, and respiratory symptoms. It is easily transmissible between people from cough droplets and contact with secretions (mucus). Remember to cough into your elbow or clothing instead of your hand or handkerchief!

Influenza tends to affect between 5% – 20% of the population. In the United States, more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu. The most common complication is pneumonia.

This year's flu vaccine contains two strains of influenza A (New Caledonia and Wisconsin, H1N1) and one strain of influenza B from Malaysia (H3N2). The injectable flu vaccine is the inactivated or killed virus type. It cannot give you the flu but it will trigger your body into making antibodies against the flu. Every year the CDC checks to see how closely the flu vaccine strains meet the flu strains circulating in the communities. This year we appear to have a fairly good match.

Getting a flu shot can prevent hospitalizations, influenza related respiratory illnesses, physician visits, or absenteeism from work or school. If you have not yet been vaccinated this year, please consider getting a flu shot. Vaccine is available at the Health Department or from local physicians. Please call the Health Department, 378-4474, for further information.