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This year's flu season has finally peaked, as the CDC reports that 'influenza activity decreased in the United States' last week.
There are still Widespread cases of flu in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin and New York City though, while most of the rest of the country is reporting either Regional or Local flu activity. Only 5 states are reporting Sporadic flu activity.
This means that if you have flu symptoms right now and you live in a state that is reporting a moderate or high level of flu activity (anything above sporadic), then you likely have the flu and you might see your doctor right away to see if you can be started on Tamiflu.
And remember that you can also take Tamiflu when you are exposed to the flu, to reduce your chances of ever even getting sick. So if one family member gets sick with the flu, everyone else in the family could take Tamiflu so that they don't all get sick too.
Fortunately, this year's flu shot seems to be a good match for the flu virus strains that are going around. Still, the flu shot doesn't provide 100% protection, so even if you had a flu shot, if you have flu symptoms, you could still have the flu.
Flu Shots
After the shortages of flu vaccine the last few years, everyone was looking forward to an ample supply of flu vaccine this year.
Unfortunately, we didn't necessarily get it. Even with an extra 8 million doses being supplied by GlaxoSmithKline, Inc., and 60 million doses from Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., the real question mark was going to be whether the estimated 18–26 million doses of flu shots from Chiron will get final approval and release of their vaccine by the FDA into the Untied States. Remember that Chiron was the company that had all of the problems that caused the shortages last year.
In case there could be shortages, the CDC had already announced a plan which recommends that only patients in priority groups get flu shots before October 24, 2005, including:
- persons aged 65 years and older, with and without chronic health conditions
- residents of long-term care facilities
- persons aged 2 to 64 years with chronic health conditions
- children aged 6 to 23 months
- pregnant women
- health-care personnel who provide direct patient care
- household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children aged < 6 months
Most of the problems with flu shots supply revolved around high demands, and not so much around a shortage, as we have had more flu shots available than ever before. Still, some people who wanted one weren't able to get one this year.
FluMist was also an option for healthy persons between the ages of 5 and 49 years this year.
Who Needs A Flu Shot?
Although anyone who wants to decrease their chances of getting the flu can get a flu shot (as long as there aren't any shortages), remember that it is advised that kids get a flu shot if they:
- are between 6 and 23 months old, even if they are healthy
- have any chronic medical problems that put them at increased risk of complications from the flu, like asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, etc., or who are on long-term aspirin therapy
- have a newborn or infant under 6 months old living at home with them (why? these infants are at high risk from the flu, but are too young for a flu shot, so by vaccinating everyone around them, hopefully they won't be exposed to and exposed to and won't catch the flu)
Parents, in addition to needing a flu shot if they have a chronic medical problem, should get one if they are pregnant, have an infant at home under 6 months old, or are in another priority group mentioned above.
When Should You Get A Flu Shot?
Although it is usually recommended that you get a flu shot in October or November, if your kids are in a priority group, you should usually try to get them one as early as possible in October to make sure they get one. Is it too late now? Yes, since flu season has peaked and should be mostly over in the next few weeks.
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