With all the talk about a serious respiratory virus attacking children in a dozen states — not to mention all the ebola craziness– it can be easy to forget that we are coming up to flu season. The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases held a press conference this morning to make it clear: influenza is coming, there is NOTHING trivial about it, it can kill, and vaccinations are critical.
Dr Tom Frieden, the Director for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, lead the conference. His message: there were tens of millions of illnesses last year and the illness uncharacteristically struck young adults and people without pre-existing health conditions. It isn’t known exactly how many people actually died from the flu because it often causes other complications that lead to death so it’s tough to keep track. What is known: more than 100 children died of influenza last year.
Getting ready for this year
Flu season typically peaks between December and February, but it can start as early as October and last through until May. The flu is unpredictable, says Dr. Frieden, and we don’t know what strains will hit ahead of time. However, it is anticipated that we will face the H1N1 virus again. The strain caused a deadly pandemic back in 2009 and then reappeared last year. This year’s vaccine will protect against the strain.
More people die from the flu than ebola
Dr Paul Offit, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases and Director, Vaccine Education Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, says part of the problem is that people keep saying, “It’s just the flu.”
He believes we confuse the rhinovirus and other more benign sicknesses with influenza. However, he wants to change the name to something more exotic so people will pay attention.
He says more people die from the flu than ebola, historically, and that we need to wake up and get vaccinated.
The youngest victims
The youngest victims of the flu are not necessarily previously sick kids. In fact, a substantial portion of kids who die have no prior medical conditions. “The flu has claimed even more children than we know,” said Dr. Offit. “The real tragedy is that many of these deaths could have been prevented if the children were fully immunized against flu.” Of the more than 100 kids who died last year, 90% had not been vaccinated.
Pregnant women at high risk
Pregnant women are at high risk of complications and the flu doubles the risk of fetal death.
Since the recommendation is for everyone over six months to get vaccinated, health officials say they want to assure the public that the vaccines are safe even for pregnant women. Dr Laura Riley, Director of Labor and Delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital, says she deals with moms-to-be every day who are concerned about getting the shot. “There is no risk of birth defects or pre-term delivery from the shot”, assures Dr Riley. She says it is the best way to not only protect the mom, but also the baby for the first six months until he or she can be vaccinated.
The elderly or people with pre-existing conditions. Or weakened immune systems are also at high risk from the flu and need to take extra precautions.
Vaccination is our best defense
Dr Frieden says, “Our recommendation: Everyone over the age of six months get a flu shot.” In 2013, only 46.2% of the population overall got vaccinated. The numbers for kids was better, just over 70%. The numbers are up slightly over the year before.
“It is encouraging that over the past few years more people are getting their flu vaccine. But we need to encourage more young and middle-aged adults to get vaccinated. Because they also can suffer serious consequences from the flu,” said Dr. Frieden. “Vaccination is the single most important step everyone 6 months of age and older can take to protect themselves and their families against influenza.”
Lots to go around
There will be more than 150,000,000 doses of the vaccine available this year. Health insurance covers the shots and, in most cases, there is no co-pay.
Options
- The traditional shot
- The nasal spray (recommended for children 2-8)
- An intradermal vaccine, performed with a smaller needle
- A high-dose vaccine for people over 65
- An egg-free vaccine
In addition to vaccines, doctors say you should stay home if you are sick and wash your hands regularly. Also, take antiviral medications if prescribed by your doctor.
