| | Good Health Habits for Prevention
Fact Sheet
The single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year,
but good health habits like covering your cough and washing your hands often
can help prevent respiratory illnesses like the flu. There also are flu
antiviral drugs that can be used to treat and prevent the flu.
Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your
distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.
Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You
will help prevent others from catching your illness.
Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may
prevent those around you from getting sick.
Clean your hands.
Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated
with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Practice other good health habits.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty
of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
Questions:
Can herbal, homeopathic or other folk remedies protect against the flu?
There is no scientific evidence that any herbal, homeopathic or other folk
remedies have any benefit against influenza. Although, it is believed the
vitamin c with rose hips, zinc, berries, nuts, beans, green leafty
vegetables, fish and chicken strengthen the immune system.
How long can human influenza viruses remain viable on inanimate items (such
as books and doorknobs)?
Studies have shown that human influenza viruses generally can survive on
surfaces for between 2 and 8 hours.
What kills influenza virus?
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]).
Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine:
The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each
year.
There are two types of vaccines:
The "flu shot"— an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is
given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in
people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic
medical conditions.
The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses
that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for “live attenuated
influenza vaccine” or FluMist®). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in
healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses
1.) A (H3N2) virus
2.) A (H1N1) virus
3.) A B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on
international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and
strains of viruses will circulate in a given year.
About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against
influenza virus infection develop in the body.
When to Get Vaccinated:
October or November is the best time to get vaccinated, but you can still
get vaccinated in December and later. Flu season can begin as early as
October and last as late as May.
Who Should Get Vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can
get vaccinated. However, it is recommended that certain people
should get vaccinated each year. They are people who are at high risk
of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for
those at high risk for serious complications.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:
People at high risk for complications from the flu, including:
Children aged 6 months until their 5th birthday,
pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with
certain chronic medical conditions, people who live in nursing homes and
other long term care facilities and people who live with or care for those at
high risk for complications from flu.
Including:
Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu.
Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months
of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Healthcare workers.
Use of the Nasal Spray Flu Vaccine:
It should be noted that vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is
always an option for healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated:
There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting
a physician.
These include:
People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the
past.
People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting
an influenza vaccine previously.
Influenza vaccine is not approved for use in children less than 6 months of
age.
People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get
vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
Vaccine Effectiveness:
The ability of flu vaccine to protect a person depends on the age and health
status of the person getting the vaccine, and the similarity or "match"
between the virus strains in the vaccine and those in circulation. Testing
has shown that both the flu shot and the nasal-spray vaccine are effective
at preventing the flu.
Vaccine Side Effects (What to Expect):
Different side effects can be associated with the flu shot and LAIV.
The flu shot:
The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated), so you
cannot get the flu from a flu shot.
Some minor side effects that could occur:
Soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
Fever (low grade)
Aches
If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot and usually last 1
to 2 days. Almost all people who receive influenza vaccine have no serious
problems from it. However, on rare occasions, flu vaccination can cause
serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. As of July 1, 2005,
people who think that they have been injured by the flu shot can file a
claim for compensation from the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
(VICP).
LAIV (FluMist®): The viruses in the nasal-spray vaccine are weakened and do
not cause severe symptoms often associated with influenza illness. (In
clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts has
occurred only rarely.)
In children, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include:
runny nose
wheezing
headache
vomiting
muscle aches
fever
In adults, side effects from LAIV (FluMist®) can include
runny nose
headache
sore Throat
cough
http://cdcinfo@cdc.gov
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