Get vaccinated

What is influenza (also called flu)?
Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications; and
• about 36,000 people die from flu.

Some people, such as older people, young children and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications. Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to five days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccination each year.
There are two types of vaccines:

• The flu shot is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The flu shot is approved for use in people age 6 months and older, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
• The nasal-spray flu vaccine is a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. This vaccine is an option for healthy* people age 2 to 49 years of age who are not pregnant, even healthy persons who live with or care for those in a high risk group.

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.

Who should get vaccinated?
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. People who should get vaccinated each year are:

• children ages 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• pregnant women
• people age 50 and older
• people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
  people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• people who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
  • health care workers
  • household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
  • household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

When to get vaccinated
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season. In Minnesota, the flu season often extends into April and May.

* "Healthy" indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.