Bee Healthy: Questions, answers on influenza, vaccines

BY DR. YVONNE BROUARD Q : What is influenza, or a flu?

A: Influenza is an illness caused by a virus. It usually starts with sneezing and runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and fatigue. The flu can go on to cause pneumonia, severe body aches, pleurisy and even death. It occurs each year all over the world, during the winter season.

Q: How many people die each year in the U.S. from complications of influenza?

A: From 3,000 to 30,000, depending on the year.

Q: Does the influenza vaccine protect from death?

A: Yes, deaths are decreased by 80 percent when people are vaccinated.

Q: Who should get the flu vaccine?

A: Everyone age 6 months and up.

Q: If I am young and healthy, why should I get the flu vaccine?

A: First of all, if you care about those around you, some of whom are babies or children or older adults, then you should get the flu vaccine to reduce the spread of influenza through you to others who are more likely to be badly affected. A second reason is that some strains of influenza are severe enough to kill even young healthy people. In fact, the greatest number of deaths from the H1N1 strain a couple of years ago was in teenagers and young pregnant women. That was due to the fact that those young people had never received any influenza vaccines, and were not old enough to have experienced a previous similar strain, so their bodies had no immunity.

Q: When should I get the flu vaccine?

A: As soon as possible. Anytime from September into the new year is fine for getting the flu vaccine. Some years, influenza strikes California residents in January; some years, it strikes later.

Q: Should I get the injected flu vaccine (the shot), or the Flumist (nasal vaccine)?

A: If you are healthy, and between 2 years and 49 years old, you can get the Flumist. It is easier, as there is no pain, and your immunity will last longer than with the injectable vaccine. The injectable vaccine makes us immune for three to six months, through the typical flu season. The Flumist immunity lasts a full year.

Q: Will the flu vaccine make me sick?

A: Some people get fever or aches in their muscles, as with many vaccines. You cannot get influenza from the vaccine. Some people get mild sniffles or fever with the Flumist nasal vaccine, but still cannot get influenza, just some mild symptoms.

For more information on influenza and flu vaccines, see the Centers for Disease Control Web site at: www.cdc.gov/flu/ about/season/flu-season- 2012-2013.htm. Brouard is a pediatrician and the physician lead of the Sutter Gould vaccine committee.