Prevention
Flu Vaccine
The main way to keep from getting flu is to get a yearly flu vaccine. You can get the vaccine at your doctor's office or a local clinic, and in many communities at workplaces, supermarkets, and drugstores. You must get the vaccine every year because it changes.
Scientists make a different vaccine every year because the strains of flu viruses change from year to year. Nine to 10 months before the flu season begins, they prepare a new vaccine made from inactivated (killed) flu viruses. Because the viruses have been killed, they cannot cause infection. The vaccine preparation is based on the strains of the flu viruses that are in circulation at the time. It includes those A and B viruses (see section below on types of flu viruses) expected to circulate the following winter.
Sometimes, an unpredicted new strain may appear after the vaccine has been made and distributed. Because of this, even if you do get the flu vaccine, you still may get infected. If you do get infected, however, the disease usually is milder because the vaccine will still give you some protection.
Until recently, you could get the flu vaccine only as an injection (shot). In 2003, however, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a nasal spray flu vaccine called FluMist that you can get from your health care provider. The FDA approved it for use in healthy people aged 5 to 49 years.
You Should Not Use FluMist If
- You have certain lung conditions, including asthma, or heart conditions
- You have metabolic disorders such as diabetes or kidney dysfunction
- You have an immunodeficiency disease or are on immunosuppressive treatment
- You have had Guillain-Barré syndrome
- You are pregnant
- You have a history of allergy or hypersensitivity, including anaphylaxis, to any of the parts of FluMist or to eggs
Children or teenagers who regularly take aspirin or products containing aspirin also should not take FluMist.
Your immune system takes time to respond to the flu vaccine. Therefore, you should get vaccinated 6 to 8 weeks before flu season begins in November to prevent getting infected or reduce the severity of flu if you do get it. Because the flu season usually lasts until March, however, it's not too late to get it after the season has begun. The vaccine itself cannot cause the flu, but you could become exposed to the virus by someone else and get infected soon after you are vaccinated.
Possible Side Effects
You should be aware that the flu vaccine can cause side effects. The most common side effect in children and adults is soreness at the site of the vaccination. Other side effects, especially in children who previously have not been exposed to the flu virus, include fever, tiredness, and sore muscles. These side effects may begin 6 to 12 hours after vaccination and may last for up to 2 days.
Viruses for producing the vaccine are grown in chicken eggs and then killed with a chemical so that they can no longer cause an infection. The flu vaccine may contain some egg protein, which can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, if you are allergic to eggs or have ever had a serious allergic reaction to the flu vaccine, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you consult with your health care provider before getting vaccinated.
Vaccine Recommendations
If you are in any of the following groups or live in a household with someone who is, CDC recommends that you get the flu vaccine.
- You are 50 years of age or older
- You have chronic diseases of your heart, lungs, or kidneys
- You have diabetes
- Your immune system does not function properly
- You have a severe form of anemia
- You will be more than 3 months pregnant during the flu season
- You live in a nursing home or other chronic-care housing facility
- You are in close contact with children 0 to 23 months of age
CDC recommends that children 6 months to 23 months of age get the flu vaccine.
Children and teenagers (6 months to 18 years of age) should get the flu vaccine if they are taking long-term aspirin treatment as they may be at risk of developing Reye's syndrome following a flu infection (see section on complications in children). They should also get the flu vaccine if they live in a household with someone in the above groups.
Health care providers and volunteers should get the flu vaccine if they work with people in any of the above groups.
Medicine for Prevention
| Recommendation: Because of influenza A virus resistance to rimantadine and amantadine, CDC currently recommends that you not take these drugs to prevent flu. |
Although the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent getting the flu, four antiviral medicines also are available by prescription that will help prevent flu infection.
- Tamiflu (oseltamivir)
- Flumadine (rimantadine) (See Recommendation.)
- Symmetrel (amantadine) (See Recommendation.)
- Relenza (zanamivir)
Tamiflu, Flumadine, and Symmetrel may be used by children who are 1 year of age and older and adults. For adults and children 5 years of age and older, Relenza is used for prevention of flu.
- These medicines help prevent the flu if you take them for at least 2 weeks during the outbreak of flu in your community.
- You may use these medicines if you are in close contact with family members or others who have the flu.
- You may use them if you are in close contact with people who have been vaccinated but whom you want to give added protection from getting the flu.
- You may use them immediately following flu vaccination during a flu epidemic to protect you during the 2- to 4-week period before antibodies develop or when a flu epidemic is caused by virus strains other than those covered by the vaccine. (Antibodies are proteins from your immune system that protect you from the flu virus.)
Your health care provider can help you decide which medicine is best for you. You should discuss the flu vaccine and medicines with your health care provider before the flu season begins.
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