21 Sep 2014 Flu shot? No real question

by Katelin Whiddon

“Flu shot.” Two words that cause a lot of debate every fall. Should I get the flu shot? Should I get my children a flu shot? I hope to answer some of those questions for you.

While there are many ways you can prevent the flu and other illnesses, including hand washing (see last 501 Kids article), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still reports the influenza vaccination to be the single best preventative measure against the flu.

The original flu vaccines were introduced in the 1940s, and since then it has protected hundreds of millions of people.

I hear so often “every time I get the flu shot, I get the flu.” The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine — it does not cause the flu. Occasionally, some people will have “flu-like” symptoms after receiving the vaccination, but this is a common reaction that your immune system produces in response to the vaccination. It indicates that your immune system is making protective antibodies to the flu virus components in the vaccine. This reaction can happen with any vaccination, not just the flu.

It takes approximately two weeks for the flu vaccine to be effective against protecting you from the flu, so if you develop more than mild symptoms, you most likely were exposed to the flu virus before your vaccine had time to build up your immunity. Adults with the flu can actually be contagious about 24 hours before they develop symptoms.

There are two different routes of administration for the flu vaccine for your children: the injection or the mist. The injection is generally given in the thigh for infants and toddlers, and then in the upper arm for older children and adults. The mist is a spray that is administered up the nose.

The influenza injection can be given to those who are 6 months and older. If your health care provider has expressed concerns with someone receiving the flu vaccine due to a health problem or egg allergy, it should be avoided. The FluMist® can be given to persons 2 years and older who meet specific criteria. Please talk to your healthcare provider regarding these criteria.

The Quadrivalent vaccine is a fairly new formulation for the flu vaccine. This is available in both the injection and mist form. In years past, the influenza vaccines have protected from three strains of the flu virus, but the Quadrivalent vaccine protects you against four strains, making it more likely to keep you and your family safe from the flu virus.

The Quadrivalent vaccine may not be available in all schools, health departments and doctor offices. Please talk to your health care provider to find out which vaccine they have for your family this flu season.

While most view the flu as a virus that gets you down for a few days with body aches and fever, it can be much more than that. Every flu season there are numerous hospitalizations and even deaths from the flu.

Knowing the potential severity of the flu, please consider protecting yourself and your family this flu season. For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website at cdc.org and talk to your healthcare provider. 

A native of Conway, Katelin Whiddon is a family nurse practitioner at Central Arkansas Pediatrics. She and her husband, Daniel, have two daughters. A graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, she has her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.