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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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October 8, 1999
Contact: CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
Flu Season 1999-2000
Vaccine Information
- Influenza viruses ("the flu) infect the respiratory tract. Symptoms
include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle
aches, and extreme fatigue. Although nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
sometimes occur during an infection, these symptoms are rarely prominent.
"Stomach flu" is a misnomer sometimes used to describe gastrointestinal
illnesses that are actually caused by other organisms.
- Influenza viruses continually change over time, and each year the
vaccine is updated to include the viruses that are most likely to
circulate in the upcoming influenza season. The influenza vaccine (flu
shot) that has been produced for the 1999-2000 flue season contains three
influenza virus strains designated A/Beijing/262/95-like (H1N1),
A/Sydney/5/97-like (H3N2), and B/Yamanashi/166/98 hemagglutinin antigens.
- The best time to get a shot is from October through mid-November.
However, shots can be taken at any time during the season. It takes 1-2
weeks, after receiving the shot, for a person to develop protective
antibody.
- Flu vaccines are 70%-90% effective in preventing influenza among
healthy adults. Among elderly or people with chronic conditions, the
vaccine may be less effective in preventing disease than in preventing
serious complications and death.
- Annual flu shots are recommended for persons who are at high-risk for
serious complications, if they should get influenza. Groups at increased
risk include:
- Persons 65 years of age and older;
- Residents of nursing homes and chronic care facilities;
- Adults and children (6 months of age and older) who have chronic
disorders of the pulmonary or cardiovascular systems, including children
with asthma;
- Adults and children who have required regular medical follow-up or
hospitalization during the preceding year because of chronic metabolic
diseases (including diabetes), renal dysfunction, hemoglobinopathies, or
immunosuppression;
- Children and teenagers who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
and, therefore, are at increased risk for developing Reye syndrome after
an influenza infection;
- Women who will be in the second or third trimester of pregnancy
during the flu season.
- Persons who care for and/or live with people at high risk for
complications from flu should also get a shot. These persons include:
- Physicians, nurses, and other personnel in both hospital and
outpatient-care settings;
- Employees of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities who have
contact with patients or residents;
- Providers of home care to persons at high risk (e.g., visiting
nurses and volunteer workers);
- Household members (including children) of persons in high-risk
group.
- In the United States, flu season usually peaks in late December and
early March.
- Surveillance information is updated weekly from October through May,
and is available online at
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly. Or, you can receive
the information by fax by calling toll-free (888) 232-3238 (document no.
361100).
Flu Season 1999-2000: See also...
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