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Inglewood and Staff Vaccination

Influenza (The "Flu")

What is Influenza?

Influenza - the "flu" - is a very contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. Flu symptoms can include a fever, headache, muscle pain, a runny nose, sore throat, and cough. Sometimes, but not very often, children with the flu can have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Although colds and various other viruses may cause similar symptoms, true influenza weakens a person much more than other viruses. That's why it is important for children and adults with ongoing health problems to protect themselves against this seasonal disease. It is also important for health care staff and certain other groups to be immunized against the flu to protect the "high risk" people they care for.

A flu shot is the best guard against this serious disease, giving up to 70% protection against whatever types of influenza are going around. The vaccine should be given in early November, because your body needs time to develop its protection before the flu season starts in the winter.

How is it spread?

The influenza virus can be spread through the air by coughing or sneezing, or by direct touching of the infected person, or by touching articles infected with mucous from the sick person's nose or throat.

How dangerous is Influenza?

The biggest danger from influenza is that it lowers your body's ability to fight other infections that you may get while you still have the flu.

Bacterial pneumonia and viral pneumonia are two infections that can occur as a result of influenza. Various diseases of the nervous system can also begin when your body is weakened from the flu. Sometimes, these other infections or diseases can lead to death. Statistics show that more than 1000 Canadians die every year from influenza.

What should seniors know about the influenza vaccine?

If you are over 65 years old, it is likely that your immune system is weaker than it once was. Doctors put seniors in a "high-risk" category for flu, and advise that they should all receive an annual influenza vaccination. As well, seniors with chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, or suffering from diabetes, cancer or anemia are especially at risk. The influenza vaccine is a simple precaution - but it could save your life.

A flu shot is the single best guard against this serious disease, offering up to 70 per cent protection against whatever types of influenza are going around.

For older people, the immunizing effects of the vaccine last for about four months before they start to wear off. That is why the vaccine should be given in November. This gives your body enough time to build up immunity before the flu season starts -- usually in December. Getting your flu shot in November will also maintain your immunity through the peak of the flu season from January to March.

If you are over 65 years old or living with a chronic disease or illness and being vaccinated to prevent the flu, you may also consider vaccination against pneumococcal disease. It is safe to get both these vaccines at the same time. The vaccines are injected into separate sites using separate needles. Studies have shown that the number and severity of side effects do not increase when pneumococcal vaccine is given at the same time as flu vaccine.

Who should get the flu vaccine?

Some children and adults who are identified by their doctors as being at "high risk" for flu should get the flu vaccine.

• Children with ongoing heart, lung or kidney disease, or with asthma, diabetes, cancer, anemia, or immune system disorders are especially at risk, and should get the flu vaccine every year.
• Children and teenagers being treated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin) for long periods of time are also at high risk, and should get the vaccine.
• Healthy children and adults living in the same house as these "high risk" children should also get the vaccine, to protect the child at risk as well as themselves.
• If there is an indication for flu vaccine, children less than nine years of age who have not been immunized with the flu vaccine in the past need to receive two doses of flu vaccine one month apart. Children nine years of age and older only need one dose of vaccine.

 

• Adults with ongoing heart, lung or kidney disease, or with asthma, diabetes, cancer, anemia, or immune system disorders are especially at risk, and should get the flu vaccine every year.
• People of any age who are residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities should get the vaccine every year.
• Healthy children and adults living in the same house as these "high risk" adults should also get the vaccine, to protect the person at risk as well as themselves.

 

• It is also important for health care workers and other personnel who have significant contact with "high risk" people to get a flu shot each year to protect those "high risk" people they care for. This includes first responders (police, firefighters and ambulance attendants) and certain independent health care practitioners and their staff.
• Seniors: Flu vaccine is recommended for all people over the age of 65. See Health File #12a "Why Seniors should get flu shots".

Possible side effects of the vaccine

Influenza vaccine is very safe. It is rare to have any side effects other than some swelling or soreness at the injection site. A few people may get a mild fever, headache and flu-like signs, such as aching muscles. These reactions start in 6 to 12 hours and last 24 to 48 hours.

With any vaccine or drug there is a possibility of a shock-like reaction (anaphylaxis). This can be hives, wheezy breathing, or swelling of some part of the body. If this happens, particularly swelling around the throat, immediately get to your family doctor or hospital emergency.

It is suggested that persons stay in the clinic for at least 15 minutes after receiving any type of immunization.

Report serious reactions to your local public health nurse or family doctor.

NOTE: Acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) can be given if fever or soreness is present after getting the vaccine.

Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA or aspirin) is NOT recommended for children.

The Health Unit will NOT give this vaccine to those who have:

 

• moderate or severe illness, with or without fever (except for certain people with serious chronic illnesses, such as ongoing heart, lung or kidney disease, or asthma, diabetes, cancer, anemia, or immune system disorders);
• known anaphylactic (shock-like) reaction to eggs or to any component of the flu vaccine (thimerosal, formaldehyde, sodium deoxycholate and triton X-100).

Mature minor consent

While every effort is made to seek parental or guardian consent prior to immunizations, children under the age of 19 who are able to fully understand the risks and benefits of specific immunizations may consent to or refuse such immunizations regardless of parental/guardian wishes. Appropriate steps are taken to avoid peer influence in these decisions. Parents/guardians and their minor children are advised to discuss consent issues. For further information, please contact your local health unit.

Should people younger than 65 also get flu vaccinations?

It depends. If you are less than 65 and are unwell at times because of a chronic illness, such as lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, anemia, or other diseases that weaken your immune system, you should also consider flu vaccination. This advice applies both to adults and to children older than six months.