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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

The importance of the flu vaccine, and what to do if you get sick

Public health officials explain the importance of the influenza vaccine and what to do if you get sick.

Q. Should I get vaccinated?

A. Short answer: yes. Everyone older than 6 months should get a flu shot. And there are a variety of reasons.

There are three strains covered by the vaccine (some include a fourth). So this year’s vaccine is still very effective against the strains included, and somewhat effective against the drifted strain.

“Even though it’s not a perfect match, it still might reduce the severity of it” Panhandle Health District’s David Hylsky said, and could protect a sick individual enough to keep her out of the hospital, and even from dying.

Plus, it’s still too early to know if the drifted H3N2 virus will continue to dominate. The H1N1 virus that caused widespread illness in 2009 could come back, and that’s fully covered by the vaccine. Or, it could be that the drifted strain will only dominate in certain regions.

“We do recommend influenza vaccine for everyone, because most of us, even if we’re not concerned about hospitalization or death … we don’t want to be sick,” said Mark Springer, of the Spokane Regional Health District. “We don’t want to deal with loss of work or sick time, but we also are in contact with a number of people who have chronic medical conditions or are at high risk of complications,” and keeping ourselves from getting sick can protect them.

And, there are some people who can’t get a flu shot for health reasons. Those individuals can be protected by what’s often called “herd immunity” or “community immunity.”

To achieve community immunity for the flu, about 80 percent of the population must be vaccinated, said Paul Throne of the Washington Department of Health. So each individual who gets a flu shot is helping protect newborns and others who can’t be vaccinated.

And Throne pointed out how important it is for parents to make sure their children get flu shots.

“Children don’t have a choice about getting vaccinated, they rely on adults to make those decisions for them,” he said.

Q. Why can’t the vaccine be changed to match the drifted virus?

A. The flu vaccine is developed months ahead, based on what’s happening in other parts of the world where flu comes first, like Asia, as well as the previous year’s strains, because those tend to recur.

Q. What’s the difference between various flu strains?

A. Springer compared the differences among strains of influenza to different breeds of dogs – a bulldog, a Labrador and a Chihuahua.

There are genetic differences between the strains, but they all do the same thing: make you sick.

Influenza A is made up of two major types: H1N1 and H3N2. H1N1 mostly targets children and working age adults; it’s the strain the caused the pandemic in 2009. H3N2 mostly targets the very young and the very old. Versions of both are in the flu vaccine.

Influenza B is what Springer called “a low-level player.” It’s not really associated with outbreaks. One strain is included in vaccines; some include a second.

Q. When should I get vaccinated?

A. “It’s absolutely the right time,” Throne said.

Flu happens year-round in our region. It takes two weeks for the vaccine to become effective, so getting your flu shot this week would give you protection before the typical peak of flu season in January and February.

But even getting it in January or February would be helpful, especially if the flu season is particularly active.

The vaccine provides protection for at least a year.

Q. Where do I get vaccinated?

A. Vaccines are widely available at medical offices and pharmacies.

The Spokane Regional Health District has a flu hotline: (509) 324-1643. It also has a link to a vaccine finder at www.srhd.org/ topics/flu.asp. The link works for Idaho, as well.

In Idaho, call the Panhandle Health District at (208) 415-5270 for information or to make an appointment for a shot.

Q. Does it matter which kind of vaccine I get?

A. Public health officials say to get whichever vaccine is available.

If you have special needs, a different version might be necessary. For instance, there are egg-free versions for those with allergies and high-dose versions for the elderly. All of them have the same strains in a given year, though Throne said the nasal spray version has been found to be not as effective against the H1N1 strain.

Q. How do I know if I have the flu?

A. Flu is a respiratory illness. Symptoms typically include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. The flu usually starts in the chest, whereas a cold usually starts in the head.

“A lot of people think they’ve had flu, and they’ve actually never truly experienced it,” Throne said. “Once they do, they almost never fail to get their flu vaccine every year.”

Q. What do I do if I have the flu?

A. “First of all, staying home and not infecting anyone else is good citizenship,” Throne said. “It’s practicing excellent social hygiene.”

But you’re contagious at least one day before flu symptoms start. That’s why it’s important to make sure you wash your hands often with soap and water, avoid coughing into your hands (use the crook of your elbow instead), and avoid rubbing your nose and eyes.

Antiviral medications like Tamiflu can help lessen symptoms and reduce the time you’re sick. They are particularly important for people at risk for serious flu complications. Antiviral medications work best if started in the first 48 hours of flu symptoms.

People at high risk for complications include the very young, the very old, pregnant women and those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, endocrine disorders and heart disease.

Antiviral medication also can be used prophylactically, especially for people in a high risk group with a known exposure.