As winter fast approaches, the chances of contracting influenza, or flu, increase. The experts note that both the timing and the duration of the flu season vary. However, outbreaks can happen as early as October though flu activity usually peaks in January or even later. So it would be wise to play safe and get vaccinated, especially in the case of the more vulnerable members of society.
Flu is a contagious respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus and is spread by coughing, sneezing and nasal secretions. All are susceptible to infection though rates are highest among children. For most people, symptoms last only a few days and include fever and chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache and a runny or stuffy nose.
Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and individuals with chronic health conditions can get much sicker with very high fever and pneumonia (requiring antibiotics and even hospitalisation) along with worsening of the existing medical conditions. Flu can also cause diarrhoea and fits in children.
Thousands of people die from influenza every year and many more require treatment in hospital.
Vaccination is the best protection against the flu. Seasonal flu jabs protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will probably be most common in the upcoming season. The viruses in the vaccine often change each year based on costly international surveillance programmes and scientists’ estimations with regard to which types and strains of viruses will circulate in the upcoming year.
Seasonal flu vaccines have a very good safety track record and, over the years, hundreds of millions of individuals were given the jab. This year, in Malta, healthy children aged between six months and five years can have the flu vaccine for free along with all children older than six months who suffer from a chronic disease (except diabetics). There are other individuals who will also be vaccinated due to their higher risk of catching flu.
The Health Division recommends that all patients suffering from chronic disease and those over 55 years of age can have the vaccine for free. The Health Department is stressing that, in the case of the elderly, vaccination is not just about avoiding the flu but also preventing a deterioration of any concurrent chronic condition/s they may have, which could lead to hospitalisation and a radical change of their quality of life in that their condition could worsen and remove their independence.
Unlike the last flu season, when two vaccines – the 2009 H1N1 and the seasonal vaccine – were needed, this time only the seasonal vaccine need be taken. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine protects against the A H3N2 influenza virus, the influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much flu last season. The vaccine works within two weeks of administration and should be taken well before December.
It bears noting that over the course of the flu season different influenza viruses can circulate at different times and in different countries. Vaccination offers protection from such viruses. There can be minor side effects, such as soreness, redness or swelling where the shot is given, mild fever and transient muscle aches. If these problems occur, they begin soon after the shot is administered and usually last one to two days.
The vaccine will be available at the end of this month and, given the above, it would be wise to get vaccinated for flu as soon as possible. This is definitely one instance where prevention is better than cure, literally.