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Flu Vaccine Information Sheet
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Inactivated Influenza Vaccine
What You Need to Know 2003 – 2004
1. Why get vaccinated?
Influenza (“flu”) is a serious disease.
It is caused by a virus that spreads from infected persons to the nose or throat of others.
Influenza can cause:
Fever, sore throat chills, cough, headache, muscle aches
Anyone can get influenza. Most people are ill with influenza for only a few days, but some get much sicker and may need to be hospitalized.
Influenza causes an average of 36,000 deaths each year, mostly among the elderly.
Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza.
2. Influenza vaccine
Inactivated (killed) influenza vaccine has been used in the United States for many years.
Influenza viruses change often. Therefore, influenza vaccine is updated each year.
Protection develops about 2 weeks after getting the shot and may last up to a year.
Some people who get flu vaccine may still get flu, but they will usually get a milder case than those who did not get the shot.
Flu vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines, including pneumococcal vaccine.
3. Who should get inactivated influenza vaccine?
People 6 months of age and older at risk for getting a serious case of influenza or influenza complications, and people in close contact with them (including all household members) should get the vaccine.
An annual flu shot is recommended for:
People 50 years of age or older.
Residents of long-term care facilities housing persons with chronic medical conditions.
People who has a long term health problem with heart disease, kidney disease, lung disease, metabolic disease such as diabetes, asthma, anemia and other blood disorders
People with a weakened immune system due to HIV/AIDS or another disease that affects the immune system, long term treatment with drugs such as steroids, cancer treatment with x rays or drugs
People 6 months to 18 years of age on long term aspirin treatment (who could develop Reye Syndrome if they catch influenza).
Pregnant women who will be past the 3rd month of pregnancy during the flu season (usually November through March, but past March in some years).
Physicians, nurses, family members, or anyone else coming in close contact with people at risk of serious influenza
An annual flu shot is also encouraged for:
Healthy children 6-23 months of age
Household contacts and out-of-home caretakers of infants from 0-23 months of age, especially those younger than 6 months
People who provide essential community services
People at high risk for flu complications who travel to the Southern hemisphere between April and September, or who travel to the tropics or in organized tourist groups at any time
People living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions, to prevent outbreaks
Anyone else who wants to reduce their chance of catching influenza
4. When should I get influenza vaccine?
The best time to get a flu shot is in October or November.
Some people should get their flu shot in October or earlier: people 50 years of age and older, younger people
at high risk from flu and its complications (including children from 6 through 23 months of age), household
contacts of persons at high risk, health care workers, and children under 9 getting the flu shot for the first time.
Influenza vaccine is expected to be plentiful in 2003, so no one should have to wait to get the shot.
The flu season usually peaks between January and March, so getting the shot in December, or even later, can be beneficial in most years.
Most people need only one flu shot each year to prevent influenza. Children under 9 years old getting flu vaccine for the first time should get 2 shots, one month apart.
5. Some people should talk with a doctor before getting influenza vaccine.
Talk with a doctor before getting a flu shot if you:
1. ever had a serious allergic reaction to eggs or to a previous dose of influenza vaccine
or
2. have a history of Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS).
If you have a fever or are severely ill at the time the shot is scheduled, you should probably wait until you recover before getting influenza vaccine. Talk to your doctor or nurse about whether to reschedule the vaccination.
6. What are the risks from inactivated influenza vaccine?
A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing serious problems, such as severe allergic reactions. The risk of a vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small. Serious problems from flu vaccine are very rare.
The viruses in inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get influenza from the vaccine.
Mild problems:
soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given
fever
aches
If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last 1-2 days.
Severe problems:
Life-threatening allergic reactions are very rare. If they do occur, it is within a few minutes to a few hours after the shot.
In 1976, swine flu vaccine was associated with a severe paralytic illness called Guillain Barré Syndrome (GBS). Influenza vaccines since then have not been clearly linked to GBS. However, if there is a risk of GBS from current influenza vaccines, it is estimated at 1 or 2 cases per million persons vaccinated . . . much less than the risk of severe influenza, which can be prevented by vaccination.
7. What if there is a moderate or severe reaction?
What should I look for?
Any unusual condition, such as a high fever or behavior changes. Signs of a serious allergic reaction can include difficulty breathing, hoarseness or wheezing, hives, paleness, weakness, a fast heart beat or dizziness.
What should I do?
Call a doctor, or get the person to a doctor right away.
Tell your doctor what happened, the date and time it happened, and when the vaccination was given.
Ask your doctor, nurse, or health department to report the reaction by filing an Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) form. Or call VAERS yourself at 1-800-822-7967, or visit their website at http://www.vaers.org.
8. How can I learn more?
Ask your doctor or nurse. They can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.
Call your local or state health department.
Contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Call 1-800-232-2522 (English)
Call 1-800-232-0233 (Español)
Visit CDC websites at www.cdc.gov/ncicod/diseases/flu/fluvirus.htm or www.cdc.gov/nip
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Immunization Program
Vaccine Information Statement
Inactivated Influenza Vaccine May 6, 2003
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