Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

[sharon sanders]

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”). LAIV is approved for use in healthy people 5 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one 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 by ACIP that certain people should get vaccinated each year. They are either 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. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.
People who should get vaccinated each year are:

1. 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, and
   • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions;
   • People who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
2. 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 (see above)
   • 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 persons aged 5-49 years 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 are

• 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: 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 can include

• runny nose
• headache
• vomiting
• muscle aches
• fever

In adults, side effects from LAIV can include

• runny nose
• headache
• sore throat
• cough

More Information

• VIS: Flu Shot<!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/pdf_icon_tiny.lbi" --><!-- #EndLibraryItem -->
• VIS: Nasal-Spray Flu Vaccine<!-- #BeginLibraryItem "/Library/pdf_icon_tiny.lbi" --><!-- #EndLibraryItem -->

<!-- InstanceEndEditable --><!-- InstanceBeginEditable name="date" -->Page last modified October 17, 2006


http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm


<!-- InstanceEndEditable -->

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

2007/2008 Influenza Season - Northern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2007/2008 season (Northern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva on the 15 February 2007.
Accordingly, it is recommended that the vaccines to be used in the 2006-07 season (northern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2)-like virus*
• a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

Candidate vaccine viruses include:
* A/Wisconsin/67/2005 (H3N2) and A/Hiroshima/52/2005

2007 Influenza Season - Southern Hemisphere

The composition of the influenza vaccine for the 2007 season (Southern Hemisphere winter) was announced by the World Health Organization in Geneva in September 2006.
It is recommended that vaccines to be used in the 2007 season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:

• an A/New Caledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like virus
• an A/Winconsin/67/2005(H3N2)-like virus,*
• a B/Malaysia/2506/2004-like virus

*The currently used vaccine viruses are A/Winconsin/67/2005 and A/Hiroshima/52/2005.


http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/influenza/seasonal/vaccinecomp.htm

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

We will be posting locations, on this thread, where seasonal flu shots are available.

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

Bloomington IL

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health...ents_now_available/index.html?source=r_health

Pantagraph staff

The McLean County Health Department will begin taking appointments today for its annual influenza (flu) vaccination clinics.

The vaccine is available for county residents who are 60 or older or those who have a chronic disease such as heart, lung or kidney disease, anemia, asthma or an immune system disorder. Anyone under 60 must have a physician's statement identifying the disease and recommendation for the vaccine.

For the first time, a drive-through clinic will be available to those with limited mobility. Appointments are still required. This clinic is for those 18 and older.

"Our statewide supplier has informed us that there will be an ample supply of vaccine available this flu season to meet the department's community needs in vaccinating priority populations," said Bob Keller, director of the health department.

Since seasonal influenza causes 36,000 deaths in the United States each year, it's important that everyone consider getting a flu shot, he said. An annual vaccine is necessary because immunity declines after a year and flu strains differ each year.

Influenza is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, soreness and body aches. Diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain are not typical flu symptoms but gastroenteritis, often referred to as stomach flu.

Those with the following symptoms or conditions should not attend the clinic: fever or feel ill; allergic to eggs or thimerosal; severe reaction to previous flu vaccines; previous attacks of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Lou Gehrig's disease or other recurring or persistent neurological problem except multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease; pregnancy or probable pregnancy.

The cost is $35. OSF Healthcare plans and Medicare cards are accepted but you must have your card with you or pay the fee. No other private insurance plans are accepted.

Call (309) 888-5397 for an appointment; no walk-ins will be taken. Clinics are set for the following dates:

Oct. 16, Sale Barn, Bloomington;
Oct. 23, Miller Park Pavilion, Bloomington;
Oct. 25 Danvers Fire Protection Community Building, Danvers;
Oct. 26, Gridley Community Building, Gridley;
Oct. 30, Normal Township Senior Program Community Center Normal;
Oct. 31, Tremont Savings Bank, Stanford;
Nov. 1, Heyworth Christian Church, Heyworth;
Nov. 5, LeRoy Water Tower Place, LeRoy;
Nov. 8, Calvary United Methodist Church, Normal;
Nov. 13, Miller Park Pavilion, Bloomington;
Nov. 14, Saybrook-Cheney Grove Township Hall, Saybrook;
Nov. 15, Chenoa St. Paul's Evangelical Church, Chenoa, and Lexington Community Center, Lexington.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

Posted at 8:21 a.m., Wednesday, September 19, 2007<!--EndTimeStamp-->
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][SIZE=+2]<!--headline-->Alarm sounded for Americans in need of flu shots<!--endheadline-->[/SIZE][/FONT]
<!-- links --><!-- endlinks -->[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Verdana][SIZE=-2]<!--Byline-->By LAURAN NEERGAARD [/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-2][FONT=Trebuchet MS, Verdana]Associated Press Medical Writer <!--EndByline-->[/FONT][/SIZE]

<!--Photo-->[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif][SIZE=-1]<!-- BEGIN PHOTO TABLE --><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=130 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=1 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=100 align=left bgColor=#f0e8d9 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left>[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Verdana][SIZE=-2]Manufacturers expect to ship more than 130 million doses of flu vaccine in coming months.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Verdana][SIZE=-2]AP library photo | October 2006[/SIZE][/FONT]

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR height=10><TD width=10>

</TD><TD width=188>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!-- END PHOTO TABLE -->WASHINGTON — Only a fraction of the people who need flu shots the most are getting them — including just one in five babies and toddlers, say health officials who hope to boost those numbers as a record vaccine supply heads out this fall.

In Hawai'i, the estimated influenza vaccination rates during the 2005-2006 flu season were:
39.5 percent for all people ages 18 to 49 years old at high risk
43.1 percent for all people ages 50 to 64 years old
77.1 percent for people 65 and older
The Hawai'i rates are a bit higher than the national average.
The government sounded the alarm Wednesday, worried that a string of mild flu seasons and the vaccine confusion of recent years are deterring people from this simple lifesaver.
Manufacturers expect to ship more than 130 million doses of flu vaccine in coming months. The message: Anyone who wants to avoid the flu should seek out this ample supply, especially those at high risk of flu complications because of age or underlying illness.
While an early shot is good, don't give up if you can't schedule one in the fall — winter's not too late for protection, stressed Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"We need to rethink the influenza immunization season and encourage vaccination throughout the fall and winter for anyone wishing to be protected," she said.
Flu kills about 36,000 Americans a year, and leads to about 200,000 hospitalizations.
While the flu can be an aching misery for anyone, certain people are at particularly high risk. Flu vaccine is most recommended for anyone over 50 or under 5; people of any age who have asthma, heart disease and other chronic illnesses; pregnant women; and anyone who comes in close contact with high-risk patients, including newborns who can't be vaccinated.
Different strains of influenza circulate every winter. That makes flu vaccination an annual ritual, with a dose brewed specially each year to match the strains experts believe most likely to strike.
But it has been a wobbly ritual in recent years, as vaccine shortages and delays confused patients and frustrated doctors.
Now vaccine supplies appear to be steadily increasing. Yet while the government recommends that more than 200 million people get a flu vaccine each year, new CDC data released Wednesday suggest far too few are heeding that message.
People older than 64 are most likely to get vaccinated — 69 percent during the 2005-2006 flu season, the latest count available. That drops to just over a third of 50- to 64-year-olds, said the new report.
Just 30 percent of younger adults who are at high risk because of underlying illnesses got vaccinated, CDC found.
By 2010, the government wants to have 90 percent of senior citizens and 60 percent of younger adults who are at high risk from flu to be getting vaccinated every winter.
The new numbers suggest that's a goal that may not be met.
Flu vaccine is a little more complicated for young children, because they need two doses a month apart the very first year they're inoculated. Just 21 percent of youngsters ages 6 months to 2 years were fully vaccinated, and just over one in 10 who needed two doses got both, CDC reported. If a young child missed that necessary second dose last year, health officials are recommending that he or she make it up this year with two shots. <!--EndTextBody-->[/SIZE][/FONT]

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2007/Sep/19/br/br6470328159.html/?print=on

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

Posted on: Monday, 1 October 2007, 06:00 CDT

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1084622/flu_shot_clinics_opening/index.html?source=r_health

Flu Shot Clinics Opening


The Southern Nevada Health District will begin its annual flu shot clinics on Tuesday and residents are being urged to get them sooner rather than later if they are at high risk of getting the illness.

Those at high risk of contracting the seasonal influenza bug include people age 50 and over, pregnant women, individuals between six months old and 49 with certain medical conditions and health care workers.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends flu vaccinations for children between the ages of six months and five years.

Currently, there is no flu activity in Clark County. Flu season generally peaks in Southern Nevada in January or February.

Influenza vaccinations will be available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at:

* Ravenholt Public Health Center, 625 Shadow Lane, in Las Vegas.

* East Las Vegas Public Health Center, 560 N. Nellis Blvd., in Las Vegas.

* Henderson Public Health Center, 520 E. Lake Mead Parkway, in Henderson.

* North Las Vegas Public Health Center, 1820 E. Lake Mead Blvd., in North Las Vegas.

Vaccines also will be available at the Spring Valley Public Health Center, 6330 W. Spring Mountain Road, but by appointment only, officials said.

The health district has ordered more than 30,000 doses for this year and there are no anticipated vaccine shortages this season, though distribution methods stagger delivery over a four-week period.

Vaccines cost $30 each. The health district accepts Medicare Part B, Medicare Railroad Part B, Medicaid, and Senior Dimensions or cash. Patients must present their insurance card or Medicaid voucher at the time of service.

For more information, call the health district's immunization project at 759-0850.

 

[Niko]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

In the USA - Flu shot clinic locators (some have pnuemonia shots also)

Maxim Health Systems
http://www.findaflushot.com/

American Lung Assn.
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.aspx?c=aqKGLXOAIlH&b=1015035

Target (retail store clinics)
http://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp?title=flu_search&XSGT2959?URL=/gp/browse.html%3Fnode%3D%26CPNG%3Dflushot%26AFID%3Dgooglestr%26LNM%3Dflu_shot%26LID%3D20930957

Costco (retail/bulk warehouse store)
http://www.findaflushot.com/costco/

Walgreens (retail drug store)
http://www.walgreens.com/storelocator/find.jsp?check=true

CVS Pharmacy
http://cvsstore.geoserve.com/scripts/esrimap.dll?Name=L&Com=fo&Db=DLRCvs&Ds=Store

Walmart (select locations have clinics)
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/catalog.gsp?cat=554492


Flumist locator
https://j.ovm1.net/med2/FlumistLocator/finder/index.aspx

 

[HenryN]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

http://www.who.int/wer/2007/wer8240.pdf

In HI tests with postinfection ferret sera, some in​

​

fl uenza
A(H3N2) viruses were antigenically similar to the vaccine
viruses A/Wisconsin/67/2005 and A/Hiroshima/52/2005.
However, the majority of recent A(H3N2) viruses were
distinguishable from the vaccine viruses and were closely
related to the A/Perth/27/2007 and A/Brisbane/10/2007​

viruses (Table 1).

 

[HenryN]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

It is recommended that vaccines for use in the 2008 influenza
season (southern hemisphere winter) contain the following:
? an A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 (H1N1)-like virus;*
? an A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus;
? a B/Florida/4/2006-like virus.​

* A/Solomon Islands/3/2006 is a current vaccine virus

 

[prepdeb]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

Thank you Niko for posting the flu shot location links.

You've saved me and countless others a great deal of time.

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: Seasonal Flu Vaccine - Fall 2007

Thank you Niko for posting the flu shot location links.

You've saved me and countless others a great deal of time.

Thank you Niko.