INFLUENZA VACCINE - FLU VACCINATION - INFLUENZA VACCINES - INFLUENZA IMMUNIZATION - ADULT VACCINATION

What is influenza?
Influenza, also called the flu, is a contagious viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs that can cause severe illness. Influenza and its complications claim an average of 36,000 lives and hospitalize more than 200,000 people in the United States every year.

Influenza is spread easily from person to person; when someone who has it sneezes, coughs or even talks, the virus passes into the air and may be breathed in by anyone close by. Influenza can cause serious complications in people of all ages and in people with pre-existing conditions. Vaccination can therefore be especially beneficial to both children and adults with certain conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and compromised immune systems.

What are the symptoms of influenza?
People with influenza usually experience a sudden onset of high fever with chills, fatigue, cough, headache, runny nose, sore throat, and muscle and joint pain. Influenza is much more serious than even the worst cold or stomach virus. Most infected adults can infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass the flu on to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

Which adults should get vaccinated?

• Everyone 50 years of age and older
• All persons who want to reduce the risk of becoming ill with influenza or of transmitting influenza to others
• Anyone with certain chronic medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma, heart disease, compromised immune system)
• Pregnant women
• People who live with, care for or come into close contact with persons at risk, including children younger than six months of age and individuals with chronic medical conditions or compromised immunity
• Health care professionals
• Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities

Two different types of influenza vaccine are available: injectable inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) that is administered as a nasal spray. TIV is approved for use by all adults, with or without chronic medical conditions. LAIV is approved for healthy people 2 to 49 years of age. Detailed recommendations for the use of both vaccines are posted on the CDC Web site.

The vaccine can reduce the chances of getting the flu by 70 to 90 percent in healthy adults and, if someone gets vaccinated but still gets the flu, chances are they will get a less severe case. How well the flu vaccine works depends on how close the match is between the influenza vaccine and the types of flu viruses that are circulating that year (it's been very close in 16 of the last 20 seasons), as well as the age and health of the person being vaccinated.

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Influenza (flu) Information