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Seasonal influenza vaccine recommendations for the 2009-2010 flu season
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Watch a video on why flu vaccine is important to you
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Influenza is a very contagious illness that strikes millions of Americans each year, with pneumonia as the most common complication in high-risk groups. Influenza, unlike the common cold, has a swift onset of severe symptoms beginning with two to seven days of fever, headache, muscle aches, extreme fatigue, runny nose and sore throat, and a cough that is often severe and may last seven days or more. For more information about influenza, go to the Families Fighting Flu Web site.
When should you get seasonal influenza vaccine? |
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that seasonal influenza vaccine be given this year in September or as soon as it is available and continue through January or as long as vaccine is available. People should get flu vaccine even after influenza activity has started in the community. The earlier start for seasonal flu vaccine this year is to begins vaccinating with seasonal flu vaccine before novel H1N1 (swine) flu vaccine arrives in mid-October.
Where can you get vaccinated against the seasonal flu? |
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Contact a Public Health immunization clinic |
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Ask your own health care provider for flu vaccine. |
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NOTE: The Flu Vaccine Locator by the American Lung Association has limited data on locations in King County on where to get flu vaccine and should only be used as an alternative to other resources above. |
Providers who can schedule a flu vaccine clinic at your workplace |
Two seasonal flu vaccines are available this year |
- The traditional injectable flu vaccine which contains inactivated (killed) virus, is licensed for anyone age six months and older. Some patients experience soreness at the injection site lasting less than two days, but serious side effects from this vaccine are extremely rare. This vaccine may come in a multiple-dose vial or in single-dose vials or prefilled syringes. Single-dose vials or prefilled syringes are thimerosal-free and are available in the dosage for children age 6 through 35 months and for age three years and older.
- A live attenuated (weakened) virus vaccine (LAIV or "FluMist") that is sprayed into the nose (intranasal) is licensed for healthy people aged 2 through 49 years. A small amount of vaccine is sprayed into each nostril, instead of getting an injection. Intranasal vaccine will be available at Public Health clinics and through other health care providers.
LAIV is a good option for flu protection for people aged 2 through 49 years who are healthy and not pregnant, including health care workers and household contacts or caregivers of people in high-risk groups. LAIV may also be considered for persons providing essential community services and persons living in dormitories or under other crowded conditions to prevent outbreaks
FluMist should not be given to people who are pregnant or who have chronic medical conditions. Ask your health care provider about FluMist or review the Vaccine Information Statement at www.immunize.org/vis/vis_flulive.asp.
Both the injectable and intranasal flu vaccine formulations for 2009-10 include protection against A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1), A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2), and B/Brisbane/60/2008 strains. The seasonal influenza vaccine will not protect against the novel H1N1 (swine flu) virus. A separate vaccine will be available for the novel H1N1 flu strain in mid-October. For more information about H1N1 vaccine, go to www.kingcounty.gov/health/H1N1.
Who should get flu vaccine? | Anyone aged 6 months and older who wants to reduce their risk of influenza may receive influenza vaccine, as long as they do not have allergies to vaccine components or other contraindications. Also, people who have a risk of complications if they get influenza disease, and adults and children who live, work, or may come in contact with people at high risk should also receive influenza vaccine. These groups specifically include:
- All children 6 months through 18 years of age
- All persons 50 years of age and older
- Women who will be pregnant during the influenza season
- Adults and children with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, (except hypertension) lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease, liver disease or diabetes
- Adults and children with weakened immune systems due to HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system, long term treatment with drugs such as steroids or cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs
- Adults and children who have any condition (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders or neurological disorders that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions or increase risk of aspiration
- Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities that house persons of any age who have chronic medical conditions
In addition, to prevent transmission to persons identified above, flu vaccine is also recommended for:
- Healthy household contacts (including children) and caregivers of children aged 0--59 months and persons at high risk for severe complications from influenza
- Health care workers
Important reminder: Persons at high risk for influenza-related complications may also need immunization against pneumococcal pneumonia. This vaccine is given only once in a lifetime for most people, with a one-time revaccination recommended for people with certain medical conditions. For information about the pneumococcal vaccine, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-ppv.pdf This is also a good time to check your immunization record for the date of your last tetanus-diphtheria (or Td) booster. Tdap, a vaccine that provides protection against pertussis (whooping cough) in addition to providing protection against tetanus and diphtheria, was licensed in September, 2005. Tdap is available for anyone 11-64 years old who has not had a Td booster in at least 2 years. This can be given during the same visit in which you receive flu vaccine. For information about the Tdap vaccine, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-tdap.pdf
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