Every year worldwide millions of people suffer from the flu. *
- Flu is a viral infection originating in the respiratory tract, which causes marked illness and may lead to serious complications
- Everyone is potentially at risk. Flu is not just a disease affecting the elderly or young children – each year it affects people of all ages and walks of life.
1. What is the flu?
The flu is a serious illness. It is an infection, initially of the respiratory tract, caused by a virus. Flu is highly contagious and is spread from person to person by coughing and sneezing. Flu is often confused with the common cold.
However, a cold doesn’t have the same potential as flu to develop into a life-threatening illness. Flu can lead to pneumonia, hospitalisation, and be life-threatening in some people, particularly the elderly and those with medical conditions, such as heart or lung problems.
2. What is the difference between flu and the common cold?
The common cold usually has different symptoms to the flu. Colds tend to begin slowly and symptoms include a sore throat, blocked or runny nose, and a cough.
The flu initially comes on very quickly and is severe immediately. You will experience high fever, and severe muscle aches and pains.
Severe flu usually lasts from five to 10 days. However, the cough and feeling of exhaustion can last for several weeks, making it difficult to return to normal daily activities.
3. How effective is the flu vaccine?
No vaccine is 100% effective, however the flu vaccine is effective in providing protection against the infection. Studies have shown the flu vaccine to be 70% to 90% effective in preventing the illness.
Flu vaccinations protect only against the flu strains in the vaccine for the current year. They will not protect you against the many other viruses that are around every winter. Some of these cause similar symptoms to flu, but flu is generally more serious than these other infections.
4. Can you get flu from the shot?
No, it is impossible to get flu from the vaccine itself. The vaccine does not contain live viruses so you cannot get the flu from the vaccine. However, the vaccine will not protect you against the common cold and other respiratory viruses that may be mistaken for flu; or even against a new strain of flu that is very different from the viruses in the vaccine.
5. How is the vaccine made up?
The flu vaccine contains three different strains of flu virus, which are circulating globally each year. They are selected by medical experts. The viruses are grown in hens' eggs, then killed and purified before being made into vaccine.
6. Why do we need a vaccination every year?
Each year, the circulating flu virus tends to change, so the vaccine is updated to include the most current flu virus strains. Also, the protection that the body makes after being vaccinated declines over time, so one year after being vaccinated the levels are low and not protective.
7. How are the strains selected?
The three vaccine strains are selected by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The WHO has over 100 national flu centres worldwide, which analyse viruses and provide updates on changing strains.
Each year, the WHO recommends what strains make up the vaccine for the forthcoming year. In Australia, the Australian Influenza Vaccine Committee then determines the final vaccine formulation.
8. Who should be vaccinated?
- Anyone who wishes to reduce the likelihood of getting the flu
- Most people can benefit from flu vaccination but it is particularly important for some. These include: People aged 65 or older
- Adults and children with heart or lung disease (including people with asthma)
Anyone who lives, works or volunteers in a nursing home, chronic care facility, or retirement home
- Adults and children with diabetes or other metabolic disease, cancer, kidney disease, a blood disorder or anyone whose immune system is weakened
- Anyone who works or volunteers in healthcare
- Emergency service workers — including fire, police and ambulance staff
- Anyone who lives in the same household as, or is in close contact with, a person who is at increased risk of complications from flu should also consider vaccination.
9. Why should apparently fit and healthy people in the ‘at risk’ groups get vaccinated?
Being fit and healthy does not protect you against flu. Vaccination is the only way to prevent flu. A flu infection is likely to worsen an underlying condition, such as asthma or diabetes, even if it is usually controlled.
Once in the workplace, the flu is very difficult to contain. Staff affected by the flu compromise workplace safety and efficiency.
10. When should people be vaccinated?
Flu vaccination is best before outbreaks occur. The peak flu activity in most parts of Australia usually occurs in the July-September period.
11. Is there anyone who should not get vaccinated?
- Infants under six months of age
- Anyone with a serious allergy to eggs or egg products
- Anyone who had a serious allergic reaction to a previous dose of the flu vaccine
- Persons who are ill with a fever at the time that the vaccination is being given should usually wait until they recover before getting flu vaccine
If in doubt, ask your doctor, who can check the flu vaccine prescribing information
* Mills J, Yapp T. An economic evaluation of three CSIRO manufacturing projects. 1996 Australia: CSIRO
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