Most Americans have probably been infected with the influenza virus, also known as “the flu,” at some point in their lives. Chicken soup, bed rest and drinking lots of fluids are just some of the self-prescribed treatments many people will rely on to get their health back on track.
Millions of Americans each year also try to prevent the flu by getting the flu shot — a vaccine that helps the body build resistance to influenza virus. This year, however, many healthy Americans had to delay receiving the vaccine because of a nationwide delay.
For those who have not yet receive the shot, but still want it, more doses of the vaccine are now becoming available and will still provide protection from the flu.
Earlier this fall the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that a substantial amount of
the flu vaccine would reach providers later than usual this year. As a result, the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated their recommendations for the 2000-01 flu season in order to ensure that people at high risk received their doses first — asking healthy individuals between the ages of 50 and 64 to wait until more vaccine was available.
People at high risk for complications from influenza are:
People aged 50 and older — updated this year from previous ACIP recommendations that cautioned people 65 and older.
Children and adults who have chronic pulmonary or heart disease.
Residents of nursing homes.
Children and adults who have required regular medical hospitalization or follow-up.
Teen-agers and children (6 months to eighteen years old) receiving aspirin therapy.
Women who will be in their 2-nd or 3-d trimester of pregnancy.
As more doses of the flu vaccine become available, the CDC urges “healthcare professionals and the public to be patient, but persistent in their efforts to get flu vaccine.” They also urge healthcare professionals to continue focusing their vaccination efforts on people at high risk for flu-associated complications.
The CDC estimates that approximately 75 million doses of the flu vaccine will be distributed in 2000-01. This is about the same number as last year, but this year there were some problems with the production of the vaccine, which delayed its shipment. While providers typically receive most of their flu vaccine supply in early October and are able to distribute 99 percent of the doses by December, the CDC estimates that approximately 18 million doses (24 percent) of the vaccine will be distributed this December.
While the optimal time to receive the flu shot is October through mid-November, health officials say it is not too late for Americans to get a flu shot because the flu season runs through April. Most cases of the flu usually occur between late December and early March. It takes approximately two weeks after vaccination for antibodies against the virus to develop and provide protection from the flu.
Influenza shots are recommended for anyone who wishes to avoid the flu, but many Americans still do not get vaccinated each year. One common misconception about the vaccine is that it can give you the flu.
Other side effects from the vaccine that some people fear are allergic reactions. Again, these events are rare and limited mainly to those who are allergic to eggs, since the vaccine is grown in hen’s eggs.
In fact, the most common side effect reported is soreness at the site of injection, which is almost always mild and of brief duration.
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