Flu vaccine won't make you completely immune, but it's more important than you think
7 years, 11 months ago

Flu vaccine won't make you completely immune, but it's more important than you think

ABC  

As we head towards a southern hemisphere winter, many people are wondering if it's worth getting the flu vaccine. The Australian Government recommends everyone from six months old be vaccinated, with those in the following higher-risk categories eligible for a free shot in 2017: people aged 65 years and over; Aboriginal and Torres Strait people aged six months to less than five years; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are aged 15 years and over; pregnant women; people aged six months and over with medical conditions, like severe asthma, lung or heart disease, low immunity or diabetes that can lead to complications from influenza. All brands of flu vaccine available in Australia are safe; researchers are continuing to monitor for any side-effects week-by-week using SMS feedback from people who have been recently vaccinated. In the meantime, we generally recommend April to June is probably the optimal time for vaccination — early enough for your immune system to "learn" how to deal with the influenza virus for the peak flu season, but not so late you miss the peak flu season.

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History of this topic

Here's Exactly How Long It Takes To Get Sick After Being Exposed To The Flu
2 weeks, 5 days ago

Here's Exactly How Long It Takes To Get Sick After Being Exposed To The Flu

Huff Post  

Ika84 via Getty Images The body aches, fever and tiredness that the flu causes come on one to four days after being exposed to the virus. The typical flu incubation period, which is the time it takes from being exposed to a virus to coming down with symptoms, is “somewhere between one and four days,” Thielen said. “Symptoms can occur …

Revealed: The common medications that make your flu shot less effective
4 months, 1 week ago

Revealed: The common medications that make your flu shot less effective

Daily Mail  

Everyone is asked to get the flu shot every year to slash their risk of infection and hospitalization. While the flu shot is widely recommended, doctors are advising people to be careful about the medications they use before or after they get vaccinated because some drugs could decrease the vaccine's efficacy. There are more than 295 drugs that can interact …

Should YOU have a flu jab? As up to half the country are offered it, read our ultimate guide to whether it's worth it - and how to make it work better if you do get it
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Should YOU have a flu jab? As up to half the country are offered it, read our ultimate guide to whether it's worth it - and how to make it work better if you do get it

Daily Mail  

An estimated 30 million people in the UK – almost half the entire population – are being offered a flu vaccine to reduce their chances of infection this winter. So just how good is the flu vaccine, when’s the best time to have it – and how can you boost its effectiveness to ensure you get the maximum protection this …

The flu shot is different this year, thanks to COVID
5 months, 1 week ago

The flu shot is different this year, thanks to COVID

NPR  

The flu shot is different this year, thanks to COVID toggle caption Mark J. Terrill/AP This year’s flu shot will be missing a strain of influenza it’s protected against for more than a decade. One reason COVID mitigation efforts were so effective at eliminating B/Yamagata is there was already a fair amount of immunity in the population against this strain …

Flu shots are doing OK vs. virus, US numbers indicate
1 year ago

Flu shots are doing OK vs. virus, US numbers indicate

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Early estimates suggest flu shots are performing OK in the current U.S. winter flu season. The vaccines were around 40% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctor’s office, clinic or hospital, health officials said during a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccines meeting Wednesday. …

The Long Quest for a Universal Flu Vaccine Finally Takes Its First Steps
1 year, 4 months ago

The Long Quest for a Universal Flu Vaccine Finally Takes Its First Steps

Wired  

At state health departments and academic medical centers, and at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, epidemiologists are intently watching two sets of data: the number of flu cases and the number of Americans taking flu shots. But there’s one more piece of data that will let analysts know how this flu season will unroll: whether the vaccine …

Do I need a flu jab? TV’s Dr Hilary answers all our winter vaccine questions
2 years, 3 months ago

Do I need a flu jab? TV’s Dr Hilary answers all our winter vaccine questions

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. …

Getting A Flu Shot May Lower Your Risk Of Stroke, Study Finds
2 years, 6 months ago

Getting A Flu Shot May Lower Your Risk Of Stroke, Study Finds

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING There may be a major perk to getting your flu shot that spans beyond virus protection, according to a new observational study published in the American Academy of Neurology journal. Approximately 41.4% of people who had a stroke during the study’s time period got their flu shot compared to 40.5% of people who had not had a …

Flu vaccinations are being urged as cases rise. So, how effective is this winter's jab?
2 years, 9 months ago

Flu vaccinations are being urged as cases rise. So, how effective is this winter's jab?

ABC  

Australia had a couple of virtually flu-free years, but the disease has bounced back — and then some — over the past few weeks. "We've got around 600,000 children under the age of two who've never seen flu, so that's quite a sizeable population of young kids who are entirely susceptible," Sheena Sullivan, an infectious diseases epidemiologist at the Doherty …

Can I get the flu jab if I've just had COVID-19? What you need to know about winter with both viruses
2 years, 10 months ago

Can I get the flu jab if I've just had COVID-19? What you need to know about winter with both viruses

ABC  

Flu season has officially arrived, with Australia already seeing thousands of cases of the virus. Both COVID-19 and influenza are now circulating in the community, and health authorities are pleading with people to get their flu shot to reduce the "life-threatening" risk of having both at the same time. "Once you're better, and once you're out of isolation, you can …

Your questions about flu season and vaccines answered as a COVID winter looms
2 years, 11 months ago

Your questions about flu season and vaccines answered as a COVID winter looms

ABC  

As the mercury drops and days get shorter, sniffles, sore throat and other classic symptoms of flu typically start rearing their snotty, grotty heads. The flu vax protects against four viruses Two influenza A : H1N1 was first detected in the Americas in 2009 and caused the 2009-10 swine flu pandemic H3N2 was behind the 1968 flu pandemic, which killed …

This season’s flu vaccine seems to be a poor match, preliminary CDC data shows, but it has been a mild flu season
3 years ago

This season’s flu vaccine seems to be a poor match, preliminary CDC data shows, but it has been a mild flu season

CNN  

CNN — The flu vaccine has not been a great a match for the predominant viruses this season, preliminary data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows – but the season isn’t over, and the estimate could change, the agency told CNN on Thursday. CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund also told CNN in an email that the agency …

Flu is making a comeback in US after an unusual year off
3 years, 2 months ago

Flu is making a comeback in US after an unusual year off

Associated Press  

The U.S. flu season has arrived on schedule after taking a year off, with flu hospitalizations rising and two child deaths reported. “This is setting itself up to be more of a normal flu season,” said Lynnette Brammer, who tracks flu-like illnesses for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s a sad reminder of how severe flu can …

Flu is making a comeback in the U.S. after an unusual year off
3 years, 2 months ago

Flu is making a comeback in the U.S. after an unusual year off

LA Times  

Nurse Megan Chamberlain gives a flu shot to Anthony Devitt at a vaccine clinic in Brattleboro, Vt., on Oct. 26. “This is setting itself up to be more of a normal flu season,” said Lynnette Brammer, who tracks flu-like illnesses for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s a sad reminder of how severe flu can be.” During …

To fight Covid-19 and flu, joint vaccine clinics emerge
3 years, 6 months ago

To fight Covid-19 and flu, joint vaccine clinics emerge

CNN  

CNN — They’re a fall staple in most communities across the United States: flu shot clinics. “There has been an expectation that the flu would be worse this year than in year’s past, however our county is at a critical stage with COVID-19 transmission rates being at record levels, so that has been our main focus, in preventing outbreaks and …

You Don't Have To Suffer To Benefit From COVID Vaccination — But Some Prefer It
3 years, 10 months ago

You Don't Have To Suffer To Benefit From COVID Vaccination — But Some Prefer It

NPR  

You Don't Have To Suffer To Benefit From COVID Vaccination — But Some Prefer It Enlarge this image Westend61/Getty Images Westend61/Getty Images If you think vaccination is an ordeal now, consider the 18th century version. "This is the first vaccine in history where anyone has ever complained about not having symptoms," says immunologist Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine …

Coronavirus: Does the flu vaccine protect you from contracting Covid?
4 years, 5 months ago

Coronavirus: Does the flu vaccine protect you from contracting Covid?

The Independent  

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The flu vaccine protects you from seasonal influenza, not the coronavirus — but avoiding the …

Does the flu vaccine affect my chances of getting COVID-19?
4 years, 5 months ago

Does the flu vaccine affect my chances of getting COVID-19?

Associated Press  

Does the flu vaccine affect my chances of getting COVID-19? Not to mention the confusion factor: The illnesses have such similar early symptoms that people who get the flu may mistakenly think they have COVID-19, said Dr. Gregory Poland, an infectious disease specialist at Mayo Clinic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the flu vaccine for everyone …

5 Flu And COVID-19 Myths People Need To Stop Believing
4 years, 5 months ago

5 Flu And COVID-19 Myths People Need To Stop Believing

Huff Post  

dragana991 via Getty Images Flu season and the COVID-19 pandemic are set to collide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s “likely” that the viruses that cause the flu and the viruses that cause COVID-19 will both be circulating this fall and winter. “It doesn’t make risk zero.” Myth: The flu vaccine could make you sick, weak or …

Flu vaccine lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke among high-risk groups
4 years, 7 months ago

Flu vaccine lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke among high-risk groups

CNN  

CNN — The flu vaccine significantly lowered the risk of heart attacks, strokes and some other cardiovascular conditions for people at high risk, researchers reported Monday. It’s hard to ignore the positive effect the flu vaccine can have on serious cardiac complications,” said Roshni Mandania, a medical student at Texas Tech University who led the study team. The flu shot …

When should I get the flu vaccine, and does coronavirus change things?
5 years ago

When should I get the flu vaccine, and does coronavirus change things?

ABC  

With coronavirus now spreading in parts of the Australian community, many people have been wondering whether they need to get their flu jab early this year. Key points: Australians are recommended to get their flu shot from mid-April It's unclear how much seasonal flu could worsen COVID-19, but experts want to avoid people having both Flu vaccinations are free for …

Flu shot: This season’s offers ‘substantial protection’ in a season tough on children
5 years, 1 month ago

Flu shot: This season’s offers ‘substantial protection’ in a season tough on children

CNN  

CNN — The flu season is still in full swing and it’s likely to continue for several more weeks, and if you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet, you should, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The vaccine doesn’t offer perfect protection – it never does – but a new CDC report says it has significantly …

Here's Why You Really Need A Flu Shot
5 years, 3 months ago

Here's Why You Really Need A Flu Shot

NPR  

Here's Why You Really Need A Flu Shot Enlarge this image toggle caption SDI Productions/Getty Images SDI Productions/Getty Images Thanksgiving leftovers are a distant memory, and December's extra travel, shopping and family commitments are already straining nerves, budgets and immune systems. "Giving influenza vaccine to people with heart disease, for example, is as important as giving them a statin," Schaffner …

All you need to know about the flu shot
5 years, 4 months ago

All you need to know about the flu shot

Firstpost  

Here is a primer on some of the most common types of flu vaccines along with some of the key facts about this year’s flu shots. Well, experts say that the influenza virus — the microorganisms that cause the flu — is smart and keeps on changing its genetic material every year. If a child — between two and eight …

This Is Your Body On The Flu
5 years, 4 months ago

This Is Your Body On The Flu

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING ’Tis the season for turkey trots, Black Friday sales and fighting over the last piece of pumpkin pie. They may have wiped their nose and then touched their hands before putting it on a surface or may have sneezed on the surface.” Your eyes and ears may be access sites as well, but Adalja said these are …

People are getting paid to be infected with the flu
5 years, 4 months ago

People are getting paid to be infected with the flu

CNN  

CNN — It’s widely accepted that the flu and the torrent of uncomfortable symptoms that come with it are to be avoided at all costs. For a handsome sum of up to $3,300, 80 adult participants across four research facilities will receive a nasal spray with the virus and spend at least one week at an inpatient facility until they’ve …

Flu shot more likely to save your life than not getting it, says influenza researcher
5 years, 7 months ago

Flu shot more likely to save your life than not getting it, says influenza researcher

ABC  

A flu expert says getting vaccinated against the infectious disease is more likely to save your life than without it, yet only around 30-40 per cent of people are taking up the shot. Key points: A Griffith University professor says only 30-40 per cent of people get vaccinated against influenza Professor Paul Van Buynder says the vaccine is only 60 …

Does a simple flu need a vaccination ? Absolutely YES!
5 years, 9 months ago

Does a simple flu need a vaccination ? Absolutely YES!

Firstpost  

Say the word ‘Flu’ and people respond with a simple head nod or shrug, with the immense assurance that all will be well soon. For pregnant women, children under 5, the elderly, those with chronic medical conditions, and healthcare workers, the flu is more severe and can result in hospitalisation or death. There are various strains that cause influenza: Type …

This year’s flu vaccine effective against top influenza strains
6 years, 1 month ago

This year’s flu vaccine effective against top influenza strains

Salon  

This article originally appeared on Healthline, the world’s second-largest health information website, which brings you transparent health information so you can make confident decisions for living well. This prediction is based on: information about how the viruses spread during the past year which previous virus strains caused the most illness how well the previous season’s flu vaccine “matched” the viruses …

Op-Ed: Save a grandma. Get your flu shot
6 years, 4 months ago

Op-Ed: Save a grandma. Get your flu shot

LA Times  

A natural disaster is bearing down on our country, one assured to take the lives of thousands and hospitalize tens of thousands more: the annual flu epidemic. But getting a flu shot also does something else: It helps protect the people around you who are most vulnerable to serious flu illness, particularly the very old and the very young. Most …

Will Getting The Flu Shot Actually Make You Sick?
6 years, 5 months ago

Will Getting The Flu Shot Actually Make You Sick?

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Let us give it to you straight: Yes, you should probably get that flu shot you’ve been putting off. “Getting a flu shot is one of the most important things that we can do to protect ourselves and those around us,” said Deborah Yokoe, a professor of clinical medicine and medical director of the University of California, …

Flu shot: Time to get your kids' annual vaccination
6 years, 6 months ago

Flu shot: Time to get your kids' annual vaccination

CNN  

It's time to call your pediatrician. All children should get a flu shot as soon as it becomes available this season, preferably before the end of October, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends in a policy statement published Monday. "Everyone over 6 months of age should get their flu vaccine before Halloween," said Atlanta pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Shu, who is …

Fact check: Are your chances of getting the flu after a vaccination only decreased by 1 to 2 per cent?
6 years, 8 months ago

Fact check: Are your chances of getting the flu after a vaccination only decreased by 1 to 2 per cent?

ABC  

The claim Australia is well into the midst of winter, and with the cold weather comes flu. That review found the flu vaccine decreased the rate of flu infection from 2.3 per cent to 0.9 per cent in healthy adults. The very study quoted by Professor Del Mar found that the flu vaccine had an estimated effectiveness rate of 59 …

Flu vaccine 2018: Do you need it and when should you get it?
6 years, 11 months ago

Flu vaccine 2018: Do you need it and when should you get it?

ABC  

It's nearly time to roll up your sleeve, brace yourself for a small prick, and hope the nurse or doctor offers you a lollypop for your troubles. This includes: Pregnant women People aged 65 years and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged six months to five years Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and older …

What you need to know about Fluad and FluZone High Dose, the new flu vaccines for over-65s
7 years, 1 month ago

What you need to know about Fluad and FluZone High Dose, the new flu vaccines for over-65s

ABC  

In an attempt to avoid a repeat of last year's horror flu season, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the Government would fund two new flu vaccines in 2018 to try to better protect the elderly. Compared to the standard flu vaccine, the high-dose version has been shown to better stimulate the immune system of older users to make protective antibodies. …

Flu vaccine just 36% effective this season, CDC reports
7 years, 1 month ago

Flu vaccine just 36% effective this season, CDC reports

CNN  

Story highlights The flu vaccine has been just 36% effective this season, the CDC estimates The vaccine showed just 25% effectiveness against the dominant H3N2 strain CNN — Flu season is still raging in the United States, yet already it ranks among the most difficult in recent years. “You’re 36% less likely to get the flu and see the doctor …

No, it’s not too late to get a flu shot
7 years, 2 months ago

No, it’s not too late to get a flu shot

LA Times  

Is it too late to get a flu shot? The good news, according to health experts, is that it’s not too late to reduce your risk by getting a flu shot. The FluMist nasal vaccine offered in the past has not been very effective against H1N1 strains in recent years, so the CDC says it “should not be used.” You …

I Never Get The Flu, So Why Do I Need A Flu Shot?
7 years, 4 months ago

I Never Get The Flu, So Why Do I Need A Flu Shot?

Huff Post  

Brian S. Koll, MD Recently retired as Executive Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control, Mount Sinai Health System The seasonal flu is a contagious illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the respiratory tract. But flu viruses mutate every year, so even if you did not get last season’s virus, you may still succumb to this season’s. Anyone who …

Flu season: It’s early, but experts are concerned
7 years, 4 months ago

Flu season: It’s early, but experts are concerned

CNN  

Story highlights Flu vaccine effectiveness varies by how well it matches the circulating virus strains Last year's flu vaccine effectiveness was just 42% This year's flu vaccine may also provide inadequate protection, some experts say CNN — Last year’s seasonal flu vaccine effectiveness was just 42%, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated. “You can’t really do that …

Flu virus shifting east, hitting older adults hardest
8 years, 1 month ago

Flu virus shifting east, hitting older adults hardest

CNN  

Story highlights The highest percentage of flu hospitalizations has been in those older than 50 "The only thing we can count on is that the flu is unpredictable," an official says CNN — Flu activity decreased slightly but remained at high levels across the United States during the week ending February 18, according to a report based on preliminary data …

Local authorities advise against skipping flu shot
8 years, 4 months ago

Local authorities advise against skipping flu shot

Associated Press  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises against choosing the nasal spray flu vaccination option for the 2016-17 flu season. “This year the CDC recommends people receive the flu vaccine through injection and not the nasal spray,” Martha Marquez, Harris County Public Health media specialist, said. Whether a person requires two half-doses, a trivalent or a quadrivalent vaccine, Phillips …

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear
10 years, 5 months ago

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear

NPR  

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear Enlarge this image toggle caption Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Brace yourselves: Flu season is coming. Fact: You need a new flu shot each year because the circulating strains change …

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear
10 years, 5 months ago

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear

NPR  

32 Myths About The Flu Vaccine You Don't Need To Fear Enlarge this image toggle caption Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Aaron M. Sprecher/AP Images for National Council on Aging and Sanofi Pasteur Brace yourselves: Flu season is coming. Fact: You need a new flu shot each year because the circulating strains change …

Early Flu Season Hits Hard
12 years, 2 months ago

Early Flu Season Hits Hard

ABC News  

The flu is back and with a vengeance. Hitting the U.S. unusually early and hard this year, the flu season has officially arrived and it won't be departing any time soon. If you're young and healthy, the flu may just make you feel lousy for a week or two, miss some work, and spread the infection to some of your …

Still Time for a Flu Shot
12 years, 3 months ago

Still Time for a Flu Shot

ABC News  

It's official: flu season is here. "This year's vaccine appears to be right on target with the circulating virus," said Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. "Treat it as a holiday gift to yourself and everyone around you. "We're seeing the beginning of the uptick start at least a month before …

Do flu vaccines give you flu?
12 years, 3 months ago

Do flu vaccines give you flu?

BBC  

Do flu vaccines give you flu? How often have you heard people say that they’re convinced the flu jab gave them flu, or that the one year they were vaccinated they had the worst flu they’d ever had? Prediction test So what’s the explanation for the people who find they get flu within days of vaccination? If people get flu …

Flu vaccine may cut risk of heart disease and death
12 years, 4 months ago

Flu vaccine may cut risk of heart disease and death

The Hindu  

Getting a flu shot this season may not only lower your risk of influenza, but it may also help protect against heart disease, according to a new review. Two Toronto-based researchers presented studies at the 2012 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress that found that the influenza vaccine could be an important treatment for maintaining heart health and warding off cardiovascular events like …

Can a shot of flu vaccine help you prevent heart disease?
12 years, 4 months ago

Can a shot of flu vaccine help you prevent heart disease?

Firstpost  

Toronto-based researchers claim the influenza vaccine could be an important form of treatment for maintaining heart health and warding off cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks. Toronto-based researchers found that the influenza vaccine could be an important form of treatment for maintaining heart health and warding off cardiovascular events like strokes and heart attacks. Although it was encouraging to …

Swine flu vaccines will not be foolproof: WHO
15 years, 4 months ago

Swine flu vaccines will not be foolproof: WHO

The Hindu  

The much-awaited swine flu vaccine, currently being developed, will not provide 100 per cent protection against the disease, the World Health Organisation said. “No vaccines, including pandemic influenza vaccines, provide 100 per cent protection against the disease. Moreover, the pandemic influenza vaccines are not expected to provide protection against other influenza virus. “Since current seasonal influenza vaccines do not contain …

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