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Why should people with heart and lung disease get the influenza vaccine?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Because they are at higher risk of complications and even death from the flu than those without underlying diseases or disorders. See the related question below for a list of the high risk population in Swine Flu, which would be very similar, if not the same, for any type of influenza.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
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How often should an adult patient with a history of heart failure receive Trivalent influenza vaccine?
Adults should get seasonal influenza vaccine annually.
Should a doctor charge to administer a vaccine and the cost of the vaccine?
My opinion is that no, doctors should not charge to administer a vaccine and the cost of the vaccine. If this was the case, not so many people would go to get shots to keep them immune from disease. If less people get their shots, then the whole population with become less healthy. #doesthishelpany #ihopeso #sorryifitdoesnot
What is the correct temperature to store seasonal flu vaccine?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have published the following guidelines (a link to the CDC website with this information is provided in the related links section):TIV [Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine] should be stored at 35°F--46°F (2°C--8°C) and should not be frozen. TIV that has been frozen should be discarded.LAIV [Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine] should be stored at 35°F--46°F (2°C--8°C) on receipt and can remain at that temperature until the expiration date is reached.Vaccines prepared for a previous influenza season should not be administered to provide protection for any subsequent season.
Should you get a flu shot if you are taking Acyclovir?
Maybe, depending on which type of flu vaccine you will be taking. Acyclovir is an antiviral medication that can be used for influenza treatment, but is also used for other types of viral infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "It is not known whether administering influenza antiviral medications affects the safety or efficacy of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV); LAIV should not be administered until 48 hours following cessation of influenza antiviral therapy, and influenza antiviral medications should not be administered for 2 weeks following receipt of LAIV." For additional information about this and about contraindications in other situations, please see the CDC Guide to Contraindications for Vaccines at the link provided in the related links section of this page.
When influenza vaccine supply is limited vaccination efforts should focus on delivering vaccination to which groups?
Those at highest risk of serious disease complications or death. See the list below of those who are at highest risk for swine flu (these same people are at higher risk regardless of the specific strain of flu).
Where can one go to find information on a smallpox vaccine?
The website for the centers for disease control and prevention has information about the smallpox vaccine. It will inform you what smallpox is, what are the symptoms, and why you should get the vaccine.
How can a vaccine protct you against a disease?
A vaccine injects you with a smaller, less lethal version of the disease so that your body can start to build up antibodies against it. Once your body is producing the antibodies, it can easily fight off the real disease should you get it.
What should you do if you have influenza?
Sneeze on other people. Spread it to everyone you can
Are flu pills bad when your pregnant?
See also the related question below for the current recommendations fromthe American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.My doctor actually recommended I get the flu shot while I was pregnant. I did and everything is still going fine.Here in UK pregnant women are not on the list of people who should receive flu shots, but I was asked this question (I am a midwife) and did some research and in US pregnant women are up there with the elderly, people with heart/lung disease and diabetics as people who should have flu shots.I have copied this over from the CDC website:"Is it safe for pregnant women to receive an influenza vaccine that contains thimerosal? Yes. A study of influenza vaccination examining over 2,000 pregnant women demonstrated no adverse fetal effects associated with influenza vaccine. Case reports and limited studies indicate that pregnancy can increase the risk for serious medical complications of influenza. One study found that out of every 10,000 women in their third trimester of pregnancy during an average flu season, 25 will be hospitalized for flu related complications.The trace amounts of mercury from the thimerosal in vaccinations (a preservative) are about the same amount as you would get from a single meal of fish.The following excerpts from a September 3, 2009 guidance document from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are about the H1N1/09 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women:Influenza vaccines have not been shown to cause harm to a pregnant woman or her baby. The seasonal flu shot (injection) is proven as safe and already recommended for pregnant women. The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will be made using the same processes and facilities that are used to make seasonal influenza vaccines.It is important for a pregnant woman to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine as well as a seasonal influenza vaccine. A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu is at risk for serious complications and hospitalization. Pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have been severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (formerly called "novel H1N1 flu" or "swine flu"). In comparison to the general population, a greater proportion of pregnant women infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized. In addition, severe illness and death has occurred in pregnant women. Six percent of confirmed fatal 2009 H1N1 flu cases thus far have been in pregnant women while only about 1% of the general population is pregnant. While hand washing, staying away from ill people, and other steps can help to protect pregnant women from influenza, vaccination is the single best way to protect against the flu.There are two types of flu vaccine. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"- an inactivated vaccine (containing fragments of killed influenza virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in pregnant women. The other type of flu vaccine - nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine)-is not currently approved for use in pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. In addition to protecting her from infection, infants less than 6 months old will not be able to be vaccinated so it is recommended that everyone who lives with or provides care for infants less than 6 months of age receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and 2009 H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine to provide protection for the infant.One recent study conducted in Bangladesh, assessed the effectiveness of influenza immunization for mothers and their young infants. Inactivated influenza vaccine reduced proven influenza illness by 63% in infants up to 6 months of age. This study confirmed that maternal influenza immunization is a strategy with substantial benefits for both mothers and infants. There is no evidence that thimerosal (used as a preservative in vaccine packaged in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, because some women are concerned about exposure to preservatives during pregnancy, manufacturers will produce preservative-free seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines in single dose syringes for pregnant women and small children. CDC recommends that pregnant women may receive influenza vaccine with or without thimerosal. People for whom the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended should receive it, even if they have had an influenza-like illness previously, unless they can be certain they had 2009 H1N1 influenza based on a laboratory test that can specifically detect 2009 H1N1 viruses. CDC recommends that persons who were tested for 2009 H1N1 influenza discuss this issue with a healthcare provider to see if the test they had was either an RT-PCR or a viral culture that showed 2009 H1N1 influenza. There is no harm in being vaccinated if you had 2009 H1N1 influenza in the past.Pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated against the seasonal strains of influenza in addition to the A-H1N1/09 vaccine. That vaccine for seasonal flu is already distributed and available for use. The two kinds of vaccine (seasonal flu and "Swine Flu") must both be taken for complete protection from both kinds of flu in the upcoming flu season.Always check with your obstetrician before taking any medications in pregnancy. Your doctor may also be planning on administering the vaccines to patients.Note about H1N1 vaccines approved for use in the UK:These vaccines are slightly different from the vaccines approved for use in the US for A-H1N1/09, but are still recommended by the NHS for pregnant women. The difference is mostly that they contain adjuvants in the UK. See the related question below about swine flu shot ingredients.
What side effect does the H1N1 vaccine have on an unborn child?
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the inactivated ("dead") virus vaccines for pregnant women. The nasal mists containing live weakened virus is not approved for pregnant women. The risk to the unborn fetus was considered in the trials and approval process. The guidance from the CDC is very clear that the risk of not getting vaccinated against A-H1N1/09 to pregnant women and their unborn fetus is much greater than the risk of using the vaccines. Obstetricians are recommending H1N1/09 vaccinations to their patients. The vaccine is made exactly like the seasonal flu shots have been made for decades with a proven safety record, so there is no reason to think the same vaccine made with inert particles from a different virus strain would prove any less safe.The following are excerpts from a September 3, 2009guidance document from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccine and Pregnant Women:Influenza vaccines have not been shown to cause harm to a pregnant woman or her baby. The seasonal flu shot (injection) is proven as safe and already recommended for pregnant women. The 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine will be made using the same processes and facilities that are used to make seasonal influenza vaccines.It is important for a pregnant woman to receive the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine as well as a seasonal influenza vaccine. A pregnant woman who gets any type of flu is at risk for serious complications and hospitalization. Pregnant women who are otherwise healthy have been severely impacted by the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (formerly called "novel H1N1 flu" or "swine flu"). In comparison to the general population, a greater proportion of pregnant women infected with the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus have been hospitalized. In addition, severe illness and death has occurred in pregnant women. Six percent of confirmed fatal 2009 H1N1 flu cases thus far have been in pregnant women while only about 1% of the general population is pregnant. While hand washing, staying away from ill people, and other steps can help to protect pregnant women from influenza, vaccination is the single best way to protect against the flu.There are two types of flu vaccine. Pregnant women should get the "flu shot"- an inactivated vaccine (containing fragments of killed influenza virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in pregnant women. The other type of flu vaccine - nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine)-is not currently approved for use in pregnant women. This vaccine is made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. In addition to protecting her from infection, infants less than 6 months old will not be able to be vaccinated so it is recommended that everyone who lives with or provides care for infants less than 6 months of age receive both the seasonal influenza vaccine and 2009 H1N1 influenza monovalent vaccine to provide protection for the infant.One recent study conducted in Bangladesh, assessed the effectiveness of influenza immunization for mothers and their young infants. Inactivated influenza vaccine reduced proven influenza illness by 63% in infants up to 6 months of age. This study confirmed that maternal influenza immunization is a strategy with substantial benefits for both mothers and infants. There is no evidence that thimerosal (used as a preservative in vaccine packaged in multi-dose vials) is harmful to a pregnant woman or a fetus. However, because some women are concerned about exposure to preservatives during pregnancy, manufacturers will produce preservative-free seasonal and 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccines in single dose syringes for pregnant women and small children. CDC recommends that pregnant women may receive influenza vaccine with or without thimerosal. People for whom the 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended should receive it, even if they have had an influenza-like illness previously, unless they can be certain they had 2009 H1N1 influenza based on a laboratory test that can specifically detect 2009 H1N1 viruses. CDC recommends that persons who were tested for 2009 H1N1 influenza discuss this issue with a healthcare provider to see if the test they had was either an RT-PCR or a viral culture that showed 2009 H1N1 influenza. There is no harm in being vaccinated if you had 2009 H1N1 influenza in the past.Pregnant women are encouraged to get vaccinated against the flu. As always, when pregnant, check with your obstetrician before taking any medication.You should not get the vaccine if you are allergic to eggs** or sulfa drugs. Inform your health care professional if you have ever had a severe (life-threatening) allergy to eggs or to any other substance in a vaccine (some vaccines contain traces of neoporin, gentamicin and polymixin).**New studies show that an allergy to eggs, or other chicken proteins, may not prohibit some people from getting a flu vaccination. See the related questions for more information.See the related links section below for a link to the full CDC guidance document.
Is H1N1 vaccine safe for kids?
That vaccine isn't available yet but it should be safe for people of all ages.
Should a person with a weakened immune system be around a toddler or other person who received swine flu nasal mist?
It depends somewhat on the cause and severity of the immune system compromise. In some situations, the recommendation is to wait for a week after the vaccination before being in close contact with some people who are immunocompromised. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information on the use of the intranasal live attenuated (weakened) vaccines includes the following excerpts:In clinical studies, transmission of vaccine viruses to close contacts occurred only rarely. The current estimated risk of getting infected with vaccine virus after close contact with a person vaccinated with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is low (0.6%-2.4%). Because the viruses are weakened, infection is unlikely to result in influenza illness symptoms since the vaccine viruses have not been shown change into typical or naturally occurring influenza viruses. People who are in contact with others with severely weakened immune systems when they are being cared for in a protective environment (for example, people with hematopoietic stem cell transplants), should not get the nasal spray vaccine, including the 2009 H1N1 nasal spray vaccine if they will come into contact with the severely immunocompromised person within 7 days of vaccination. People who have contact with others with lesser degrees of immunosuppression (for example, people with diabetes, people with asthma taking corticosteroids, or people infected with HIV) can get the nasal spray vaccine. The full information at the CDC website about vaccines is available at the link provided in the related links section below.
