Medical professionals stress need for flu shot

Flu season is upon us, and the perennial march to get a seasonal flu vaccine from clinics, pharmacies and businesses has begun.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that last year, national flu vaccination coverage increased to 46.2 percent, which is the highest rate since 2010.

However, that figure means more than half of the population didn't get vaccinated.

Almost everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated, ideally by October, experts say. Immunity begins about two weeks after vaccination.

"In reality, everyone should get the vaccine," said Kyle Brown, certified physician assistant at Sidney Regional Medical Center. "Those who really need to get it are young children, the older population, those who have respiratory illnesses (COPD, asthma, etc.), those who have immune systems that are compromised (cancer, HIV, etc.), pregnant women, and those who come in contact with high infection risk populations (medical workers, nursing home residents, prison workers, etc.)."

Influenza, or "the flu," can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications, such as pneumonia and bronchitis. Symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches and fatigue.

An estimated 200,000 people are hospitalized each year from seasonal flu-related complications.

Flu-related deaths per year are more difficult to estimate, because flu seasons are unpredictable, fluctuating in length and severity. However, the CDC estimates that during the 30 years between 1976 and 2006, flu-associated deaths ranged from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.

While getting the vaccine won't guarantee a person won't get the flu, it's still a good idea to go and get a shot, Brown said.

"Unfortunately, the influenza vaccine is not perfect, so it does not guarantee that you will not get influenza," Brown said. "It does decrease the risk of you getting it dramatically and also helps in the prevention of spreading it."

It is thought that flu viruses spread when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk and nearby people get the virus in their mouths or noses. Sometimes, a person might also get the flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or possibly their nose.

Experts say that the best way to prevent seasonal flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year. But why every year? Isn't once enough?

The answer is no, according to the CDC. It's important to get vaccinated every year because our immune protection from vaccination declines over time, and the flu virus is constantly changing. The vaccine is often reformulated to protect against the viruses that research determines will be most common during the upcoming season.

Three kinds of flu viruses commonly circulate among people today. These are the influenza A (H1N1) viruses, influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and influenza B viruses.

The CDC estimates that between 151 million and 156 million vaccines will be available for the 2014-2015 flu season, and all of them are made to protect against these three viruses. Some of the vaccines also protect against an additional B virus.

"When a person is vaccinated, either inactivated or weakened influenza viruses are put into the body, which allows for our bodies to have an immune response which helps us fight the virus when we come into contact with it out in the public," Brown said. "The idea is to let our immune system see what the virus looks like in our body so when the virus does get into our bodies, it can have a more immediate immune response to it."

Some people may be concerned that getting a shot containing the virus itself might actually give them the flu, but Brown assures them this is not the case.

"You do not get influenza from the vaccine itself," he said. "This has been studied over and over and there is no evidence that this happens."

He adds, however, that feeling a little sick after getting a flu shot is normal.

"It is very common, after getting the vaccine, for you to feel like you are getting a cold, such as a slight increase in temperature, feeling run down," he said. "This is actually a good sign, because it is telling you that your body is working against the influenza that was in the vaccine, which in turn helps you have a good response when you do come in contact with the actual live virus in the public."

For the 2014-2015 flu season, the CDC is now recommending that children ages 2 to 8 years old receive their vaccinations through a nasal spray, when available. There is evidence that the nasal spray vaccine may work better in younger children than a regular flu shot. However, children should get the flu shot if the nasal spray is not immediately available.

Even though the vaccine decreases one's chances of getting the flu, it isn't infallible. To further prevent infection, Brown offers some common-sense advice.

"The best way to help yourself from getting influenza is to have good hygiene," he said. "This includes washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes and staying hydrated."

If you are already sick, he said, stay away from others as much as possible and minimize contact with the eyes, mouth, and nose areas.

Sidney Regional Medical Center is offering flu vaccinations at area businesses in addition to providing them at their clinic this season. To learn more, contact nurse Tammy Meier at (308) 254-5073.

The Safeway pharmacy offers vaccinations every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the Wal-Mart pharmacy offers the vaccine every Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Western Drug will be offering vaccinations in the near future.