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Influenza News & FAQs

What is influenza?

Influenza is a very contagious virus that primarily attacks the respiratory system.

Can it attack other body systems?

It can also affect the heart, brain, muscles, kidney, and liver.

How is it spread?

It is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person is coughing or sneezing. Infection can also be spread when an infected person coughs into his/her hand and then touches an object used by others such as a phone or doorknob.

How serious is influenza?

In very serious cases it can lead to life threatening pneumonia and/or can weaken the heart muscle to the point where it can no longer effectively pump blood to the body. Each year in the US 36,000 people die and 114,000 are admitted to hospital because of influenza.

What are the classic symptoms of influenza?

People with classic symptoms have a sudden onset of fever to 101-102 F, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, sore throat, and a dry cough. The symptoms come on so abruptly that the person may remember the exact time they started feeling ill. Symptoms usually last 2-3 days however can last longer.

Are there other symptoms?

Other symptoms include headache, runny nose, burning chest pain, and light sensitivity.

When do people usually get influenza?

In the US infection with influenza usually starts in late December or January and ends in April or May. This year many people have become infected as early as November.

Why is the influenza virus worse this year?

The influenza season will be longer this year meaning that more people will be exposed. The type of influenza virus this season is the H3N2 strain. This strain tends to cause more serious illness. Each year the influenza virus changes slightly. This year the strain has moderately changed such that the vaccine may only offer partial protection.

What percentage of people actually gets influenza?

20% of children and 5 % of adults will acquire influenza each year. These percentages will probably be higher this year because of the earlier season.

Who is at greatest risk of developing influenza?

The disease is most serious among people over 65 years old or less than 2 years old, and people with diabetes, asthma, chronic lung, heart, kidney, blood, immune system diseases or children under 18 years old who are on chronic aspirin therapy or patients, workers in long term care facilities and pregnant women who will be or are in their 2nd or 3rd trimester during influenza season. Health care workers are also at a greater risk due to their contact with ill people

Should I get the vaccine if I am not in a high-risk group?

People in the high-risk group should definitely get the influenza vaccine because they are at greatest risk of complications and death. Household contacts of the people in high risk groups should be vaccinated. Healthy persons who want to avoid becoming ill with influenza should get the vaccine as well because of the earlier season and potentially worse strain of the virus this year.

If the vaccine only gives partial coverage why should I get it?

It is thought that the vaccine still provides protection and if you still get influenza it will be a milder disease.

What are the side effects of the vaccine?

Since it is a killed virus vaccine you cannot get influenza from the vaccine. Sometimes there is pain at the injection site and the arm or leg may be sore for 24 hours. Rare allergic reactions can occur.

Who cannot get the flu vaccine?

Infants less than 6 months old cannot get the vaccine due to an underdeveloped immune system and persons who have serious egg allergies. Also if you are very ill with an acute illness you should postpone the vaccine until you feel better

What are the side effects from the intranasal vaccine?

The most common side effect is a runny nose. Because the vaccine is a live virus vaccine you can get a mild case of influenza with symptoms such as headache, cough, sore throat, fatigue, and muscle aches.

Can anyone get the intranasal vaccine?

The vaccine is only approved for persons 5 years or older and less than 50 years old, as there has not been adequate testing outside of these age ranges. Because this vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine there are more restrictions in its usage. If you answer yes to any of the contraindication questions you are not eligible to get the intranasal vaccines.

Contraindication questions to intranasal flu vaccine (provided by the manufacturer). A yes answer usually means that you should not get the intranasal vaccine.

1. Are you allergic to eggs?
2. Have you ever had a bad reaction to the intranasal flu vaccine?
3. Do you have AIDS, HIV, and cancer or have you received an organ transplant?
4. Did a doctor ever tell you that you have any other problem with your immune system?
5. Is there anyone living with you who has an immune system problem?
6. Did a doctor ever tell you that you had asthma or reactive airways disease?
7. Do you have any breathing or lung problems such as chronic bronchitis emphysema, or cystic fibrosis?
8. Did a doctor ever tell you that you had Guillain-Barre syndrome?
9. Do you have kidney disease?
10. Do you have diabetes or another metabolic disease?
11. If you are female, are you pregnant or breastfeeding?
12. Have you ever had a heart attack or stroke?
13. Do you have heart disease such as angina or congestive heart failure?
14. Do you have a blood disease like sickle cell disease or thalassemia?
15. Do you currently have a fever, cold or other respiratory illness?
16. Have you received any live vaccines within the last month?
17. Are you planning on receiving any vaccinations within the next 2 weeks?
18. Are you taking any prescription medicines to prevent or treat the flu?
19. Are you younger than 18 years old and on chronic aspirin therapy?

Is there a difference in the cost between the two vaccines?

Yes the intranasal vaccine is more expensive than the injectable form.

Besides getting vaccinated are there other ways to prevent the spread of influenza?

When persons with a cough visit their health care provider they may be asked to put on a mask to prevent spread of the respiratory droplets. Good hand washing can often prevent the spread from contaminated objects.

Do I only need one vaccine dose each year?

If you are 9 years or older you only need one vaccine each year. Children 6 months to age 9 who are receiving their first ever influenza vaccine require 2 vaccines one month apart.

How can I protect my infant younger than 6 months?

All family members in the house who are able to get the vaccine should have it so influenza is not brought into the home. Additional ways to protect your infant is to avoid large crowds during influenza outbreaks, have people wash their hands before touching your baby, and avoid kissing by members of the family who may be ill.

If I have a severe allergy to eggs how can I prevent getting the disease?

Because you cannot get the vaccine, it is recommended that all of your household contacts be immunized. Also staying away from people with a cough and fever as well as washing your hands frequently can help.

What can I do if I do get influenza?

If you get symptoms of influenza (sudden onset fever, headache, aches, sore throat, and dry cough) for 24 hours you should see your provider soon. There are medications that can shorten the course of influenza, however these medications only work if given within the first 48 hours.

To find out more about this disease and other vaccine preventable diseases, see the Centers for Disease Control website.