Influenza is the most frequent cause of

death from a vaccine-preventable disease

in the United States. In a study of
influenza seasons from 1976–1977
through 2006–2007, the estimated
number of annual influenza-associated
deaths from respiratory and circulatory
causes ranged from a low of 3,349 (1985–
1986 season) to a high of 48,614 (2003–
2004 season), with an average of 23,607
influenza-associated deaths. In addition to
fatalities, seasonal influenza is also “How do I keep my child safe this flu
responsible for more than 200,000 season?”
hospitalizations per year. Rates of

January 29, 2018

infection from seasonal influenza are
WHY

Michael Young

Mrs. Asbury
highest among children, but the risks for
complications, hospitalizations, and

SHOULD

CS102
deaths are higher among adults ages 65
years and older, children younger than 5
years, and people of any age who have
medical conditions that place them at
YOU TAKE
increased risk for complications from
influenza.
THE FLU
SHOT?
Flu-shots

http://www.immunize.org/askexperts/ex
perts_inf.asp

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine
/how-fluvaccine-made.htm#egg-based

Mortality rate vs. vaccine uptake

 Influenza vaccine contains three or four
influenza vaccine virus strains; two A
viruses and one or two B viruses, which
are prepared based on circulating viruses
from the previous influenza season.
Infection from one virus type does not
confer immunity to other types and it
would not be unusual to be exposed to
more than one type during a typical
influenza season. So a person who has
recently had influenza will benefit from
receipt of a vaccine that contains
additional influenza virus strains.
There are three different influenza
vaccine production technologies
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA):egg-based flu
vaccine, cell-based flu vaccine, and
recombinant flu vaccine.
1) Less than 1% of people who are
vaccinated with the injectable vaccine
develop flu-like symptoms, such as
mild fever and muscle aches, after
vaccination. These side effects are not
the same as having influenza, but
people confuse the symptoms.
2) Protective immunity doesn't develop
until 1–2 weeks after vaccination.
Some people who get vaccinated later
in the season (December or later)
may be infected with influenza virus
shortly afterward. These late
How effective is the flu shot?
vaccinees develop influenza because
they were exposed to someone with
the virus before they became
immune. It is not the result of the The worst pandemic in modern history
vaccination. was the Spanish flu of 1918, which killed
3) For many people, "the flu" is any tens of millions of people. Today, with
illness with fever and cold symptoms how interconnected the world is, it would
or gastrointestinal symptoms. If they spread faster. Bill Gates
get any viral illness, they may blame it
on flu vaccine or think they got "the
flu" despite being vaccinated.
Influenza vaccine only protects
against certain influenza viruses, not
all viruses.
4) Influenza vaccine is not 100%
effective, especially in older persons.
.