Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Fact Sheet for Clients and Families

• Every flu season is unique. Last year's vaccine won't give protection this year.
• About 20,000 Americans die each year from the flu. Nearly 114,000 were hospitalized with serious illness.
• Rates of illness are highest among children, but rates of serious illness and death are highest among those 65 and over.

Clinical signs and symptoms of the flu:

• Flu viruses are spread through coughing and sneezing of infected persons.
• Symptoms may start one to four days after exposure.
• Persons can be infectious before flu symptoms are present.
• Typical signs and symptoms include fever, muscle aches, tiredness, headache, nonproductive cough, sore throat and runny nose.
• Flu can persist up to two weeks and can make chronic illnesses worse.

Vaccination is the most effective way to stop flu from spreading:

• The recommended time for getting a flu vaccination is October-November. But you can get vaccinated in December or later as long as the vaccine is available.
• Because young, otherwise healthy children are at increased risk for influenza-related hospitalization, vaccination of children aged 6-23 months is encouraged when feasible.
• Vaccination of children up to 6 months with certain medical conditions is strongly recommended.

Persons who should be vaccinated include:

• Persons over age 50.
• Residents of long term care, assisted living and senior housing facilities.
• Persons who are chronically ill or immunocompromised.
• Children and teenagers (6 months to 18 years) who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy and may be at risk for developing Reye's syndrome after having the flu.
• Persons who are in close contact with any of the above.
• Health care workers should be vaccinated to stop the spread of disease from patient to patient.

Persons who should NOT be vaccinated:

• Persons known to be allergic to eggs should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician.
• Persons with illness causing fevers should not usually be vaccinated until their symptoms have abated.

Side effects and adverse reactions:

• Flu vaccine contains noninfectious killed viruses and cannot cause the flu.
• Coincidental respiratory disease unrelated to the flu vaccine can occur after vaccination.

Possible side effects include:

• Soreness at the site of injection.
• Fever, malaise, muscle aches and other signs of illness.
• These reactions may begin 6-12 hours after vaccination and can persist for one to two days.