Influenza: Vaccination Plus Healthy Habits

To get vaccination or not? A number of people are confused if they should get vaccinated these days. It is a fact since 2006 that seasonal influenza virus infects approximately 5% to 20% of the U.S. population every year. However, the numbers drastically increased this year when the swine flu, the H1N1 subtype currently caused a pandemic (a worldwide outbreak of serious illness).

On Vaccination. The CDC strongly recommends vaccination for "certain people" who are considered at high risk. They are the health care workers,staffs from hospitals and nursing homes and caregivers. Influenza vaccine is not recommended to certain people who are allergic to eggs. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends in 2006 that children 6 months to 59 months of age be vaccinated. Children younger than 9 years receiving the vaccine for the first time need a booster dose one month after the initial dose. Our immune system develops antibodies fighting infections in about "two weeks" after vaccination. It is important to note that among older people, children and those with "chronic illnesses", the vaccine can only reduce the severity of the symptoms and risks of complications in the event that they get sick.. The vaccine can be given to ages ranging between 6 months and older which includes healthy people and those with medical conditions. Influenza vaccine had exhibited some side effects such as soreness, mild fever, body aches, fatigue for a few days, mild runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, sore throat and cough. It is always best to consult your doctor after vaccination for proper monitoring of these symptoms.

Healthy habits. The Centers of Disease Control and prevention highly recommends these simple hygienic habits in order to prevent influenza: (1) Avoid close contact to people who are sick. (2) Stay at home when one is sick. It will help prevent others from catching your illness. (3) Cover your mouth and nose. Make sure you use a tissue when coughing or sneezing especially in public places. (4) Avoid touching one's eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spreads easily when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches one's eyes, nose and mouth. (5) Frequent hand washing with warm,soapy water for about 15 seconds is the best advise to help protect one from germs.

Where and how to get vaccine. The following are suggestions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on where and how to get an influenza vaccine: (1) Contact one's personal health care provider. (2) Check the American Lung Association's locator at www.flucliniclocator.org for influenza clinics in your area. (3) Call one's local public health clinic or state health department immunization program. Or call the CDC at (800) CDC - INFO (232-4636). (4) Check newspapers, radio stations, or other public information sources in order to find specific clinics in your area. (5) Check with one's county medical society.

For More Information

www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/flu.html

www.cdc.gov/flu/

www.pandemicflu.gov

For online subscription of FDA Consumer (magazine of US Food & Drug Administration) visit

www.fda.gov/fdac/orderform/fdap.html.

Also,visit www.prevention.com