Influenza

• Complications such as ear infections and pneumonia may follow the flu. Influenza can cause complications that can lead to death.
• Up to 2,000 Canadians die each year from influenza. Many more are hospitalized.
• Influenza can be spread to others 2-3 days before you have symptoms and up to 1 week after.
• Influenza virus can live up to 48 hours on objects such as doorknobs, toys and telephones.
• Symptoms of influenza include high fever, dry cough, headache, tiredness, sore throat and body aches.
• Everyone is at risk of getting influenza. The virus is very contagious. It spreads easily from an infected person to others through coughing, sneezing and not washing your hands often.
• Those who are 65 years old and older, or with medical conditions such as lung, heart, kidney disease, diabetes or a weak immune system are at more risk of complications from the disease.
• Children 6 months-5 years old are at more risk of being admitted to the hospital with influenza.
• Pregnant people are at increased risk for complications from influenza. They should get immunized (at any stage of pregnancy) to protect themselves and their baby.
• Antibiotics are not used to treat influenza because antibiotics do not kill viruses and influenza is a virus.

How is influenza prevented?

• Get the influenza vaccine every fall, because the virus strains may change each year-immunization is the single, best way of preventing influenza disease. In Alberta an injectable influenza vaccine is offered to everyone over 6 months old at not cost.
• Wash your hands often.
• Keep your hands away from your face.

Getting the influenza vaccine is much safer than getting influenza disease or having complications of influenza disease.

How well does the vaccine work?

• Protection develops 2 weeks after you get the vaccine and lasts up to 6 months.
• Immunization prevents illness in 70-90% of healthy children and adults. Those who are immunized and get influenza usually have milder symptoms.
• Studies show that healthy working adults who get the vaccine have fewer lost work days and visits to their healthcare provider.

What is in the vaccine?

• There are no live viruses in the injectable vaccine. You can’t get the disease from the vaccine.
• The live nasal spray vaccine has live virus in it. The live virus has been weakened and changed so it is unlikely to cause disease.
• Some types of influenza vaccines have a very small amount of thimerosal in them.

When is the vaccine given?

• Influenza season usually lasts from October to the end of March. The best time to be immunized is in October or November, although it’s never too late in the year to get immunized.
• In Alberta, influenza vaccine is available to everyone over 6 months old at no cost.

What are the risks with immunization?

• Side effects are usually mild and don’t last long.
• Influenza vaccines are very safe.
• It is safe to get the injectable influenza vaccine when you are pregnant and the live or injectable influenza vaccine when you are breastfeeding.
• Most people don’t have any reaction to the vaccine. Some people may have mild reactions such as soreness, redness or swelling where the needle was given or a runny or stuffy nose after receiving the live nasal spray vaccine.
• As with any vaccine, unexpected or unusual reactions can happen. Severe allergic reactions are very rare.