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 per cent effective, but the chance of hospitalisation or death from the flu is much lower for those who get the vaccine More than 80 per cent of cases recorded in Queensland this year have been Influenza A Queensland has so far seen its worst influenza season in recorded history, with 37,000 reported cases and 83 confirmed deaths since the start of the year — nearly five times the five-year average according to Queensland Health. "This is not 'everybody got vaccinated and we're seeing record numbers', this is a third to two-fifths of Australians got vaccinated and we're seeing a record number of cases, which wouldn't happen if the other 60 per cent went out and rolled up their sleeves," Professor Van Buynder said. Professor Van Buynder said depending on your age and strength of your immune system, the flu vaccine was on average 60 per cent effective and was better against some strains than others. "It is very much a gut feeling … and it's not just a few sniffles — if people have been hit by the flu they go down like a tonne of bricks," he said.

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History of this topic

Fresh flu warning as explosion shows 'no signs of letting up' - with hospitalisations up 50 per cent in a week, say health chiefs
3 months ago

Fresh flu warning as explosion shows 'no signs of letting up' - with hospitalisations up 50 per cent in a week, say health chiefs

Daily Mail  

Britain is being battered by a tidal wave of festive flu, health chiefs warned today. Surveillance programmes that monitor the UK's outbreak suggest flu hospital admissions in England have already surpassed last year's peak and are running at their highest level so far this winter. Surveillance programmes that monitor the UK's outbreak suggest flu hospital admissions in England have already …

Chennai, Mumbai on high alert for flu: What you need to know
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Chennai, Mumbai on high alert for flu: What you need to know

New Indian Express  

Flu season in India typically occurs during the monsoon and post-monsoon months, as the increased humidity following cooler weather creates an environment conducive to the spread of viruses. Types of flu found in India In India, several strains of the flu or influenza virus are commonly found, particularly during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Influenza B Influenza B viruses are …

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 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. …

Moderna's combined flu and Covid vaccine could cut down visits to your doctor as it proves to be just as effective as separate shots
1 year, 5 months ago

Moderna's combined flu and Covid vaccine could cut down visits to your doctor as it proves to be just as effective as separate shots

Daily Mail  

An experimental combination vaccine for the flu and Covid could be just as effective as getting two separate shots, clinical trials found. An experimental combined vaccine from Moderna for the flu and Covid could be just as effective as getting two separate shots, clinical trials found Less than one-fifth of US adults plan to get the updated Covid booster, and …

Woman says she was ‘stupid’ not to get flu jab after two weeks in hospital
2 years, 2 months ago

Woman says she was ‘stupid’ not to get flu jab after two weeks in hospital

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A woman has said she was “stupid” not to get …

Why getting your Covid-19 and flu jab is crucial this winter
2 years, 3 months ago

Why getting your Covid-19 and flu jab is crucial this winter

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Those eligible for NHS influenza vaccination and Covid-19 boosters …

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 shot linked to lower risk of stroke: Research
2 years, 6 months ago

Flu shot linked to lower risk of stroke: Research

Hindustan Times  

According to a study, getting an annual flu shot may be linked to a lower risk of stroke. Flu shot linked to lower risk of stroke: Research The findings of the study were published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. "This observational study suggests that those who have a flu shot have a lower risk of …

Flu Shot Linked To Lower Risk Of Stroke, Says Study
2 years, 6 months ago

Flu Shot Linked To Lower Risk Of Stroke, Says Study

News 18  

According to a study, getting an annual flu shot may be linked to a lower risk of stroke. “Studies have shown that getting the flu increases your risk of having a stroke, but research is still being collected on whether getting the flu vaccine can help protect against a stroke," said study author Francisco J. de Abajo, MD, MPH, PhD, …

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 …

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 …

Will we all need COVID vaccine booster shots?
3 years, 8 months ago

Will we all need COVID vaccine booster shots?

Al Jazeera  

As more and more people are fully vaccinated around the world, attention has turned to whether or not booster vaccines will be required to maintain immunity and to protect against emerging variants of the COVID-19 virus. by Dr Amir Khan On July 8, Pfizer-BioNTech announced that it plans to apply for emergency authorisation for a booster dose of its vaccine, …

Americans who got flu shots last year were 25% less likely to test positive
3 years, 11 months ago

Americans who got flu shots last year were 25% less likely to test positive

Daily Mail  

Americans who received flu shots last year were significant less likely to test positive for COVID-19, a new study suggests. A new study found that, of the 13,000 Michigan Medicine patients who received the flu shot, 4% contracted coronavirus compared to 5% of the 14,000 patients who did not get the flu shot COVID-19 patients who were vaccinated against the …

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 …

CDC chief says there could be second, possibly worse coronavirus outbreak this winter
4 years, 11 months ago

CDC chief says there could be second, possibly worse coronavirus outbreak this winter

CNN  

CNN — A second coronavirus outbreak could emerge this winter in conjunction with the flu season to make for an even more dire health crisis, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Washington Post in an interview. White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx was asked during Tuesday’s news briefing about Redfield’s comments …

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 Shots Keep Pregnant Women And Their Babies Safe, But Many Are Skipping Them: CDC
5 years, 5 months ago

Flu Shots Keep Pregnant Women And Their Babies Safe, But Many Are Skipping Them: CDC

Huff Post  

Listen, we get it. But while we can sympathize with missed gym sessions and going an entire trimester without consuming a vegetable, there’s one very important healthcare step pregnant women should never skip, yet most are: getting their flu and whooping cough vaccines. “CDC strongly recommends that health care providers speak with moms-to-be about the benefits of safe Tdap and …

Flu shots 2019: Only 52% of Americans plan to get vaccinated
5 years, 5 months ago

Flu shots 2019: Only 52% of Americans plan to get vaccinated

CNN  

CNN — While 60% of adults think that the flu vaccine is the best preventive measure against flu-related deaths and hospitalizations, only 52% said they planned to get one this season, according to a survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. “I’m here because the mission of HHS is to protect and enhance the health and well-being of every …

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 …

Severe Flu Raises Risk Of Birth Problems For Pregnant Women, Babies
6 years, 2 months ago

Severe Flu Raises Risk Of Birth Problems For Pregnant Women, Babies

NPR  

Severe Flu Raises Risk Of Birth Problems For Pregnant Women, Babies Enlarge this image toggle caption Nenov/Getty Images Nenov/Getty Images Need another reason to get the flu shot if you're pregnant? More likely, Rasmussen believes, the problems arise because pregnant women with the flu are at "greater risk of getting pneumonia, of needing to be hospitalized and even being admitted …

Most US adults have not gotten a flu shot for this mild season
6 years, 3 months ago

Most US adults have not gotten a flu shot for this mild season

CNN  

CNN — Most US adults have not gotten a flu shot this season, according to a new survey from NORC, a research organization at the University of Chicago. Looking at the new NORC report, Webby worries about “the quarter of people 60-plus that are not getting vaccinated.” Adults over 65, children under 2 and individuals with medical conditions not only …

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 …

Flu season deaths top 80,000 last year, CDC says
6 years, 5 months ago

Flu season deaths top 80,000 last year, CDC says

CNN  

Story highlights Flu caused an estimated 80,000 deaths last fall and winter The 2017-18 season ranks as the deadliest in more than four decades New: Record 900,000 flu hospitalizations last year CNN — An estimated 80,000 Americans died of flu and its complications last winter, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This means it was the …

Flu shots: A pinch in the arm, but not always in your wallet
6 years, 6 months ago

Flu shots: A pinch in the arm, but not always in your wallet

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — It’s flu shot season, but the pinch of a shot doesn’t have to also hurt your wallet. Roughly 145 million Americans get flu shots each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Affordable Care Act required insurers to cover the cost of patients’ flu shots without charging a copay, although some insurers only …

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 …

Even ‘bad match’ flu shots are still effective
6 years, 10 months ago

Even ‘bad match’ flu shots are still effective

CNN  

Story highlights Based on US vaccination rate averages, the flu shot saves 61,000 people from death Vaccination also prevents 129,000 hospitalizations CNN — Each winter, many people wonder whether its worth getting a flu shot while health officials repeatedly warn against not getting one. Based on the model, if more people got a flu shot, say half of the US …

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 …

Got Your Flu Shot Yet? Consider This A Reminder
7 years, 1 month ago

Got Your Flu Shot Yet? Consider This A Reminder

NPR  

Got Your Flu Shot Yet? Consider This A Reminder Enlarge this image toggle caption Mladen Zivkovic/Getty Images Mladen Zivkovic/Getty Images Marian Smith somehow missed getting a flu shot this year, which is unlike her — in the past, she always got one. "All types of patient reminders and recall are likely to be effective," says Julie Jacobson Vann from the …

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 …

Influenza Vaccine Linked To Less Hospitalizations Among Elderly
7 years, 7 months ago

Influenza Vaccine Linked To Less Hospitalizations Among Elderly

Huff Post  

Adult vaccination by Judy Schmidt, James Gathany CDC 2006 Flu Vaccine Linked To Less Hospitalizations Among Elderly The world’s population is growing bigger – and older. Lower respiratory tract infection, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, is the leading cause of admission to the hospital from infectious diseases and deaths among older adults, with influenza as the most important viral infection …

Flu season: Why you might get sick even if you've been vaccinated
7 years, 9 months ago

Flu season: Why you might get sick even if you've been vaccinated

ABC  

The man in this photo looks appalling: a middle-aged male suffering, all tucked up in his chair-bed ready to moan the day away. "It's based on what strains have been circulating over the past few years in the Northern or Southern hemisphere, each one is guided by what's been happening in the other," Professor Stocks said. Influenza rates in SA …

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 …

Flu virus shifting east, hitting older adults hardest
8 years 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 …

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