Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It spreads from person-to-person and can cause mild to severe illness; and in some cases, can lead to death.
In the United States, yearly outbreaks of seasonal flu usually happen during the fall through early spring.
The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.
Flu viruses can cause illness in people of any age group. Children are most likely to get sick because their immune systems aren’t strong enough to fight off the infection.
Some groups are more likely to have complications from the seasonal flu. These include:
those age 65 and older
children younger than 2 years old
people of any age who have chronic medical conditions (e.g. diabetes, asthma, congestive heart failure, lung disease)
Complications from the flu can include:
bacterial pneumonia
ear or sinus infections
dehydration
worsening of chronic medical conditions
Every year in the United States, on average:
5 to 20 percent of the population get the flu
More than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu-related complications
About 36,000 people die from flu-related causes
The Vaccine
A seasonal vaccine is distributed routinely every year.
While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three viruses that research suggests will be most common.
The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season.
Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the 2010-2011 season vaccine is available.
People at high risk of serious flu complications include young children, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 65 years and older.
Vaccination of high risk persons is especially important to decrease their risk of severe flu illness.
Vaccination also is important for health care workers, and other people who live with or care for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to high risk people.
Children younger than 6 months are at high risk of serious flu illness, but are too young to be vaccinated. People who care for them should be vaccinated instead.
There are two types of vaccine. The intranasal vaccine is available now and can be given to healthy individuals aged 2 years yo 49 years. To see if you or your child can receiver the nasal spray flu vaccine, please answer the questions on the screening questionnaire which follows.
Please answer all of these questions for each person to be immunized. Bring a copy with you to your appointment! If you can answer no to all of the questions, your child is eligible to receive the nasal spray flu vaccine. If you are not sure, please call the office before your appointment to clarify which type of vaccine your child should receive.
