Variety of flu vaccines available [The Jamestown Sun, N.D.]

Oct. 01--People who want to protect themselves and their families from influenza will have a variety of vaccines to choose from this year.

"The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) is saying get one -- the important thing is to get one, whatever formulation, and don't wait for 'the better one,'" said Robin Iszler, unit administrator with Central Valley Health District.

CVHD vaccinated more than 110 people at its seasonal flu clinic on Monday, and will continue to vaccinate people as the influenza season progresses, Iszler said.

And for the past two weeks, about 10 to 20 people a day have been coming into CVHD for flu vaccinations, she added.

CVHD offers business-based and school-based flu clinics in Stutsman and Logan counties. Its staff will also give flu vaccines every weekday from 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Generally speaking, Central Valley gives about 3,000 flu vaccines a year in its two-county coverage area, Iszler said. That number does not include any vaccinations given by others at clinics, pharmacies or other locations.

Most health insurance providers do pay for the flu vaccine, and people receiving vaccines at CVHD should bring their insurance or Medicare cards, Iszler said. There is a small amount of vaccine available for people who don't have insurance, who should call ahead to ensure the vaccine is available.

Influenza vs. the vaccine

On average, according to the CDC, 23,607 deaths and more than 200,000 hospitalizations are associated with influenza every year.

Also according to the CDC, influenza is a highly infectious viral illness with symptoms including fever, muscle pains, sore throat, cough and headache. Often the fever's onset is very sudden.

People can transmit influenza a day before they have any symptoms.

While only about half of people infected with influenza will develop "classic" clinical symptoms of it, in .5 to 1 of 1,000 cases, death occurs -- and approximately 90 percent of those deaths are people older than 65.

Other complications of the flu include pneumonia, inflammation of the heart and worsening of chronic diseases.

Influenza is generally transmitted after an infected person coughs or sneezes -- making hand-washing and covering coughs important in preventing the flu's spread, Iszler said.

Vaccines for influenza are more effective when the strain chosen to vaccinate against matches the strain of influenza in circulation.

When there's a close match, the vaccine shot is 90 percent effective in preventing the flu in people younger than 65 -- but only 30 to 40 percent effective for people older than 65.

However, the flu vaccine is still 80 percent effective in preventing death from the flu in people older than 65, and greatly reduces the chances of hospitalization from the flu, the CDC said.

The nasal spray vaccine efficacy is about 87 percent.

While the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends everyone age 6 months and older be vaccinated against influenza -- unless there are good medical reasons otherwise -- there are people who are regarded as being at higher risk for complications of the flu. They are, according to the CDC:

--children age 6 months to 4 years old

--people 50 years old or older

--people with chronic lung illnesses such as asthma, or other chronic illnesses, including diabetes

--people who are immune-suppressed, from either medication or illness

--women who are pregnant

--children 6 months through 18 years old who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

--residents of nursing homes or chronic-care facilities

--Native Americans

--people who are morbidly obese

--health care personnel

--caregivers or people who live in the same house as young children or adults age 50 and older

--caregivers or people who live in the same house as at-risk people.

Some people shouldn't be vaccinated -- typically those who have had an allergic reaction to a vaccine or those who are ill -- and certain vaccines have been formulated for specific age groups.

According to the CDC, there are sometimes reactions to flu shots, such as soreness or redness at the injection site in 15 to 20 percent of cases, or fever, chills and aches in fewer than 1 percent of people. More rarely, there are allergic reactions to the vaccine.

With the nasal spray, the most common adverse reactions are runny noses and headaches in children. Adults may experience coughing, runny noses, nasal congestion, sore throat and chills, at a rate about 3 to 10 percent higher than usual.

Flu vaccine options

People seeking the flu vaccine have a number of choices this year, including:

--the standard trivalent flu shots -- protecting against three strains of the flu -- generally for people 6 months old and older.

--the trivalent shot grown in a cell culture, egg-free, for some people who are allergic to eggs.

--the high-dose trivalent shot for people age 65 and older, which gives them better protection than the ordinary shot.

--the trivalent intradermal shot injected into the skin instead of the muscle, with a smaller needle than the ordinary shot.

--the standard quadrivalent flu shots --which protect against four strains of the flu.

--the standard quadrivalent nasal spray, approved for people from 2 to 49 years old.

There are also preservative-free vaccines, and vaccines for children who have not previously had a flu shot, that are formulated to be taken in two separate doses.

Nasal spray vaccines shouldn't be taken by people who are fighting off another infection, people who have asthma or pregnant women, said Aubrey Wock, pediatric nurse at Essentia Health.

Locations offering flu shots don't typically have every single option available.

For example, CVHD has the standard trivalent shots, the high-dose shots and the quadrivalent nasal spray, Iszler said.

Essentia has different options, some for people with health insurance and other options for people who have Medicaid, no coverage or who are considered underinsured, Wock said.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453

or by email at

klucin@jamestownsun.com

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