Flu shots critical to winter health

By Gracie Hart
Review Staff Writer

Published: October 23, 2008

It’s that time of year again: nature is displaying its fall colors, the sun is going to bed earlier and Christmas ornaments are taking over stores.  However, with the good comes the bad - runny noses, fevers and sneezing.  Flu season is upon us and now is the time to seek out a vaccination.
Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses.  It spreads mainly from person to person through coughing and sneezing.  Also, people may become infected by touching something that has been contaminated by a person with the illness.  It can cause mild to severe illness, and in some cases, death. 
According to the Virginia Health Department, each year 5 to 20 percent of the United States population gets the flu.  Of those, 226,000 are hospitalized annually from flu complications and about 36,000 people die from the flu.  More people die from the flu than from any other vaccine-preventable disease.
According to the Virginia Department of Heath, the best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination every year.  The vaccine is designed to protect against the three main flu strains that research indicate as the ones that will cause the most illness during the flu season. 
Each year during flu season, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) studies samples of flu viruses circulating to evaluate how close a match there is between them and the vaccine to achieve an optimal match between the two.  The better the match, the better the protection. 
According to the CDC, it is important to remember that even during seasons when the vaccine is not optimally matched to predominant circulating viruses; it can still provide enough protection to prevent or lessen illness severity and prevent flu-related complications. 
In 16 of the last 20 flu seasons, the viruses in the influenza vaccine have been well-matched to the predominant circulating viruses.  Since 1988, there has only been one season, 1997-98, when there was a very low match between the vaccine and the viruses.
There are two types of flu vaccines available.  The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine containing killed virus that is given with a needle.  It is approved for use in people six months of age and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.  The nasal-spray flu vaccine is a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu.  This vaccine is approved for use in healthy people aged two to 49 years who are not pregnant.
According to Virginia Health Department, the vaccinations take about two weeks to develop the antibodies needed to protect against influenza and may last up to a year.  For this reason, vaccination should begin in September or as soon as the vaccine becomes available, with the best time for vaccination being in October and November.  Flu season in Virginia typically reaches its peak in January and February but can last into March or later.
Anyone who wants to reduce their risk of getting the flu should get vaccinated, but according to vaccination guidelines, certain people should get vaccinated each year.  These include: children ages six months up to 19 years-old, pregnant women, people ages 50 and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, people who live in nursing homes and long-term care facilities and people who live with, or care for, those at high-risk for serious complications.
The guidelines for school-aged children are new this year.  The Advisory Committee on Imunization Practices and the American Academy of Pediatrics have added children five to 18 years-old to the previous recommendations to vaccinate children six months to four years old.  This adds 30 million school-age children to the guidelines. 
According to the health department, there has been some research to show that communities with more young children tend to have earlier and increased levels of respiratory illness because children are key flu spreaders.
The CDC recommends many steps to protect yourself against the flu.  They recommend getting the yearly flu vaccine as the first step, along with frequent hand washing, to decrease your chances of getting the flu.  Should you get the flu, they recommend antiviral drugs which are prescription medications that keep flu viruses from reproducing in your body and also minimizing contact with others while infected.
Locally, a number of clinics are established to administer flu shots.  Some upcoming flu shot clinics include an event at Zoar Baptist Church.  They will be giving flu shots Oct. 26 from 2-5 p.m.  The cost is $15 for those who can pay or the price is covered by Medicare for Medicare participants.  Those without insurance or funds can receive the shot for free.  For more information, call the church at 540-854-6533. 
Germanna Community College will hold flu shot clinics Nov. 6-7 from 10 am until 2 p.m. at the Locust Grove campus.  The shot is free for Anthem CoVa Care participants.  For those without insurance coverage, shots are $30.  For a list of other insurance providers being accepted at the clinic, contact Germanna’s human resources office at 540-423-9058. 
The Virginia Department of Health will also hold a free drive-thru flu shot clinic Monday, Nov. 3 at Booster Park from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. 
Flu vaccinations can also be obtained by contacting your local physician or at a number of local pharmacies.