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2011-2012 Flu Season
The flu. It's just a fever and cough, right? Wrong. Hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized because of the flu every year and an average of 36,000 people die from it. Is it really worth the gamble?
Influenza (the flu) is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Anyone can get sick from the flu. While flu can make anyone sick, certain people are at greater risk for serious complications from the flu, causing hospitalization or even death, such as:
- Older people
- Young children
- People with chronic lung disease (such as asthma and COPD), diabetes (type 1 and 2), heart disease, neurologic conditions, and certain other long-term health conditions
- Pregnant women
Flu viruses are constantly changing. Each flu season, different flu viruses can spread, and they can affect people differently based on their body's ability to fight infection. Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from the flu and spread it to family and friends.
Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Studies going back 30 years to 1976 show that seasonal flu-related deaths have ranged from about 3,000 people to 49,000 people.
In the United States, thousands of healthy adults and children have to visit the doctor or are hospitalized from flu complications each year. Flu vaccination can protect you and your family from the flu and its complications.
The 2009-2010 flu season is an example of how unpredictable flu can be. The 2009 H1N1 virus caused a lot of illness and was more serious for younger people than seasonal flu usually is.
Click the links below for more information about the flu:
What You Need to Know About Flu
What You Need to Know about Flu Vaccine
Flu Information for Parents
What You Need to Know about Flu
1. While flu can make anyone sick, certain people are at greater risk for serious complications from the flu, causing hospitalization or even death, such as:
- older people
- young children
- people with chronic lung disease (such as asthma and COPD), diabetes (type 1 and 2), heart disease, neurologic conditions, and certain other long-
- term health conditions
- pregnant women
2. Flu viruses are constantly changing. Each flu season, different flu viruses can spread, and they can affect people differently based on their body's ability to fight infection. Even healthy children and adults can get very sick from the flu and spread it to family and friends. The first and most important step in protecting against the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season.
3. The 2009-2010 flu season is an example of how unpredictable flu can be. The 2009 H1N1 virus that caused a lot of illness was more serious for younger people than seasonal flu usually is.
4. Everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended to be vaccinated against influenza.
5. Children younger than 5 years old, and especially those younger than 2 years, are at higher risk of serious flu complications, including hospitalization and death, compared to older children. The risk of serious illness is highest among children younger than 6 months of age.
6. Vaccination is especially important for protecting children with asthma, diabetes (type 1 and 2), or other long-term health conditions because they are at increased risk for serious complications from flu.
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What You Need to Know about Flu Vaccine
The 2011-2012 flu vaccine will protect against:
- an influenza A H3N2 virus
- an influenza B virus
- the 2009 H1N1 virus
Over the last 50 years, flu vaccines have been shown to be safe. Every year, CDC works closely with FDA, health care providers, state and local health departments, and other partners to ensure the highest safety standards for flu vaccines. CDC also works closely with FDA to ensure systems are in place to promptly detect unexpected health problems following vaccination.
The flu vaccine comes in two forms: injectable (shot) and intranasal (nose spray).
The flu shot (also called inactivated influenza vaccine) cannot give you the flu. It is comprised of killed viruses. Most people generally do not experience any side effects from the flu shot. When they do occur, they are usually mild. The most common side effects from the flu shot, including the shot made to protect against the 2009 H1N1 virus last season, are soreness, redness, tenderness or swelling where the shot is given.
The nasal spray flu vaccine can protect healthy people ages 2 through 49 years from the flu. The nasal spray vaccine cannot give you the flu. It is made from weakened flu viruses that can only infect the nasal passages. Most people don't have any side effects. When side effects do occur they tend to be mild, for example runny nose, cough, or nasal congestion. The nasal spray should not be given to pregnant women or persons with chronic medical conditions including asthma or children 2-4 years old with a history of wheezing.
The flu virus is easily spread through coughs and sneezes and by touching something with the virus on it and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth. That's why good health habits are also important including:
- Staying home when you're sick
- Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
- Coughing or sneezing into your elbow and not your hand
- Washing your hands often with soap and water
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Keeping work and study surfaces clean
Health departments in Bryan, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties are currently offering the flu vaccine.
Click here for vaccine information on the flu shot (English): Flu Shot Vaccine Information English
Click here for vaccine information on the flu nasal spray (English): Flu Nasal Spray Vaccine Information English
Click here for vaccine information on the flu shot (Spanish): Flu Shot Vaccine Information Spanish
Click here for vaccine information on the flu nasal spray (Spanish): Flu Nasal Spray Vaccine Information Spanish
Click here to download the above flu information in a printable document
Flu Information for Parents
Flu can be a serious disease for children of all ages, causing them to miss school, activities, or even be hospitalized.
In the U.S. each year an average of 20,000 children younger than 5 years old are hospitalized because of flu complications. In fact, influenza is one of the leading causes of infectious disease hospitalizations among young children.
Children younger than 5 years old, and especially those younger than 2 years, are at higher risk of serious flu complications, including hospitalization and death, compared to older children. The risk of serious illness is highest among children younger than 6 months of age.
Vaccination is the first and most important step in protecting your family against the flu. Children 6 months and older are recommended to get a yearly flu vaccine. Infants younger than 6 months old are too young to be vaccinated. Protect them by getting yourself, other children and family in the household, and other close contacts vaccinated. This will help prevent spreading the virus to infants. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy can protect the mother and may offer your newborn protection from the flu after birth.
CDC recommends that children younger than 9 years of age who have never received a seasonal flu vaccine get two doses of vaccine spaced at least 4 weeks apart.
Two doses given at least 4 weeks apart are recommended for children aged 6 months through 8 years of age who are getting a flu vaccine for the first time. Children who only got 1 dose in their first year of vaccination should get 2 doses the following year.
All children 6 months up through 8 years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first time need two doses, at least 4 weeks apart, the first year they are vaccinated in order to develop immune protection. Vaccination is especially important for protecting children with asthma, diabetes (type 1 and 2), or other long-term health conditions because they are at increased risk for serious complications from flu.
The flu can make some health conditions worse. For example, children with asthma (even if it's mild or controlled by medication) are more likely to develop serious complications from the flu, such as asthma attacks or pneumonia compared to children without asthma.
Children with asthma (even if the asthma is mild or controlled by medication) are more likely to be hospitalized for flu-related complications than children who don't have asthma. If you live with or care for a child at high risk of serious complications from flu, you and your child should get vaccinated. In addition, children also should be current on other vaccines that can help prevent pneumonia, like pneumococcal and Hib vaccines.
Be sure to let the doctor know if your child has an allergy to eggs or any health conditions like asthma, other heart or lung conditions, neurologic conditions or other medical problems.