Q: Why should I get the flu vaccine?

A: Flu vaccination can:

• keep you from getting sick from the flu
• protect people around you who may be more vulnerable to serious flu illness
• reduce the risk of more serious flu outcomes, like hospitalizations and deaths
  • Flu vaccination has been associated with lower rates of some cardiac events among people with heart disease.
  • Flu vaccination has been associated with reduced hospitalizations among those with diabetes (79%) and chronic lung disease (52%)
  • Vaccination while pregnant was 92% effective in preventing infant flu hospitalizations
  • Flu vaccines can reduce the risk of flu-related hospitalizations in older adults an estimated 61% (in people 50 years of age or older)

The flu can:

• cause you to miss work
• cause you to experience muscle pains, severe headaches and fever, among other symptoms
• cause complications like pneumonia, especially if you have a weakened immune system
• cause you to transmit it to those at risk of developing serious health complications from influenza

 
Q: What are the factors that impact the effectiveness of the vaccine?

A: The most important factors that determine effectiveness are:

• The match between the prevalent seasonal strains of the virus and the flu vaccine
• Age and overall health: a healthy immune system will respond best to a flu vaccine
• How early you are vaccinated – the vaccine takes up to 2 weeks to become effective, so early vaccination is essential to protecting yourself against the flu

The CDC estimates that last year, flu vaccines reduced flu-related doctor’s visits by 60%, for both children and adults.

 
Q: How many people get sick or die from the flu?

A: The flu is unpredictable but some seasons can be severe. It is estimated that about 5-20% of U.S. residents get the flu, and more than 200,000 people are hospitalized for flu-related complications each year. The CDC estimates that each year, 36,000 people die from influenza in the United States.

In New York City, influenza and pneumonia are the third most common cause of death.

 
Q: Who should get vaccinated?

A: Everyone who is at least 6 months of age should get an annual flu vaccine.

It’s especially important for people at high risk of developing serious complications (like pneumonia) if they get the flu, such as:

• People who have medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or chronic lung disease
• Children younger than 5 years (especially those younger than 2)
• People 65 years and older
• Pregnant women

A comprehensive list is available here.

• People who live with or care for those who are at high risk of developing serious complications:
  • Household contacts and caregivers of people with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes or chronic lung disease
  • Household contacts and caregivers of infants less than 6 months old
  • Health care workers
  • Home health aides

 
Q: Who should not get vaccinated?

A: Your doctor can help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.

Generally, the following groups of people should not be vaccinated:

• Those who have had a severe allergic reaction to an influenza vaccine in the past
• Those who have severe allergic reactions to eggs
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness at the time of vaccination
• People with a history of Guillain–Barré Syndrome
• People who are sick at the time of vaccination

 
Q: Can the flu shot give me the flu?

A: No. The flu shot can cause mild side effects that are sometimes mistaken for the flu.

Some people experience a sore arm at the site of injection. This soreness is caused by the person’s immune system making protective antibodies in response to the vaccine. These antibodies allow the body to fight against the flu.

Rarely, those who get the flu shot have a fever, muscle pain, and feelings of discomfort or weakness. These effects usually only last 1-2 days after vaccination and are much less severe than the flu illness.

 
Q: If I got the flu or the flu vaccine last year, will I have immunity against the flu this year?

A: Not necessarily.

Several studies have shown that a person’s protective antibodies against flu viruses decline over the course of a year after vaccination and infection, particularly in the elderly. So a flu shot or infection acquired during one season may not provide adequate protection through later seasons.

The decline in protective antibodies has the potential to leave some people more vulnerable to infection, illness and possibly serious complications from the same influenza viruses a year after being vaccinated or infected.

Also, flu viruses are constantly changing, and flu vaccines are made to fight seasonal strains each year.

For optimal protection against the flu, annual vaccination is recommended each September regardless of past vaccinations or infections.

 
Q: Do pregnant women need special permission from their doctor to receive the flu vaccine?

A: No. There is no recommendation for pregnant women to seek special permission or secure written consent from their doctor for vaccination. In fact, the CDC recommends a flu shot for pregnant women at any stage during their pregnancy.

 
Q: I have asthma/heart disease/am immunosuppressed. Is it safe for me to receive the flu vaccine?

A: For people with conditions like these, it is even more important to receive the flu vaccine. These conditions put you at risk for severe complications from the flu, so getting vaccinated could prevent serious health issues arising from influenza. The vaccine is not recommended, however, for those with certain other health issues. See “Who should not get vaccinated?” for more information.

For Health Care Workers

 
I’m not in a high-risk group.

Your patients are at-risk, and possibly some friends and family members. You can be infected with the flu virus but not feel ill, in which case you can still transmit the flu to at-risk patients.

 
I never get sick. Why should I get the flu vaccine?

Working in a health care environment increases your risk of exposure to the flu. You can be infected with the flu virus and not experience any symptoms, in which case you can still transmit the flu to at-risk patients, co-workers and members of your family.

 
I’m not involved in direct patient care. Why should I be vaccinated?

The flu is an airborne disease that can be transmitted by coughs and sneezes, so anyone working in the vicinity of a sick person can get the flu. Additionally, when more people in an environment are vaccinated, the likelihood of contracting the influenza virus is substantially reduced.

This principle is called herd immunity, and by getting a flu shot, you are doing your part to strengthen its effect. The CDC recommends the vaccine especially for health care workers, but everyone, including clerical, administrative, laboratory, security, dietary and housekeeping employees may be exposed to the flu virus, and could then give it to others.

 
Can’t I just take antiviral drugs if I get the flu?

It is best to take precautions and prevent the flu with an annual vaccination. Medicines like Tamiflu are not proper substitutions for vaccination, they only treat symptoms. There is no cure for the influenza virus once you get it. You are even contagious before symptoms occur, and in that period of time, you could unknowingly transmit the flu to others.

Also, in circulating virus strains, resistance to antiviral drugs can develop, compromising their effectiveness for those at risk for severe complications.