What You Need to Know about Influenza (“flu”) and Flu Vaccine

What is influenza?

Influenza (“flu”) is a contagious disease caused by the influenza virus that spreads easily from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions from late fall to early spring.

Influenza can cause fever, sore throat, cough, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue. Most people will be sick for several days to several weeks, missing school or work. Some people get much sicker. Influenza can lead to pneumonia and can be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions as well as other chronic conditions. Children are also particularly vulnerable.

Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken for influenza. Only an illness caused by the influenza virus is really influenza.

Why get vaccinated against the flu?

Influenza is a serious illness, particularly for people 50 years or older, those  with chronic medical conditions like asthma or diabetes, young children, or women who will be pregnant during flu season. These individuals are more prone to complications from the flu.

Influenza and its complications can result in hospitalization and  even death, particularly among the very young and the elderly.

Influenza vaccine can help prevent influenza.

Who should get influenza vaccine?

Those at highest risk who should be immunized includes the following:

1. People 50 years of age or older
2. Women who will be pregnant during the flu season.
3. Children between 6 months through 18 years of age.
4. People with long-term health problems such as heart disease, lung disease, asthma, diabetes, kidney or liver disease.
5. People with a weakened immune system due to cancer treatment, long term use of steroids, HIV/AIDS
6. People with certain muscle or nerve disorders that can lead to breathing or swallowing problems.
7. Children from 6 months through 18 years of age on long-term aspirin treatment (they could develop Reye Syndrome if they got influenza).
8. Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities.
9. All healthcare personnel involved in direct patient care
10. All household contacts and caregivers of people at high risk.

Influenza vaccine is also recommended for anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza or spreading influenza to others.

For more information on influenza and influenza vaccine  click here for the CDC web site.

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