Every year the flu sickens millions of Americans, hospitalizes hundreds of thousands, and kills tens of thousands. Catching the flu can be as easy as standing in line next to someone who has flu symptoms.

Fortunately, protecting yourself against the flu is easy. Getting vaccinated is the single best way to prevent getting sick with the flu. To avoid infection, you should also wash your hands frequently and avoid close contact with people who are sick.

“Getting sick with the flu may not be that bad for you, but for others, it can mean weeks of illness and in the worst cases, death,” said Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “We have a responsibility to protect those who can’t protect themselves because they are under 6 months of age or have chronic health problems like cancer or heart disease.

“If you get the flu vaccine and don’t get sick, you help protect Illinoisans who are not able to be vaccinated.”

Everyone 6 months of age and older should get the seasonal flu vaccine. The vaccine is available in either a flu shot, or in a nasal spray.

Talk with a health care provider about what type is most appropriate for you.

In addition to getting your flu vaccine, IDPH recommends following the 3 C’s: clean, cover, and contain.

• Clean – clean your hands frequently by washing your hands with soap and warm water.
• Cover – cover your cough and sneeze.
• Contain – contain your germs by staying home if you are sick.

Flu viruses spread when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk.  Flu usually comes on suddenly.  People who have the flu often feel some or all of the following symptoms:

• fever or feeling feverish/chills
• cough
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue (tiredness)
• vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

Influenza antiviral drugs can be a second line of defense for people who get sick with the flu. Many studies have found that in addition to lessening the duration and severity of symptoms, antiviral drugs can prevent flu complications.

To find a location to get a flu shot in your community, check with your health care provider or local health department.  You can also use the online Vaccine Finder.

More information about influenza can be found on the IDPH website at www.dph.illinois.gov.

Click this link for the Kane County Health Department’s influenza page.

SOURCE: IDPH news release

What is New for 2019 – 2020 Flu Vaccines?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends use of any licensed age-appropriate flu vaccine for this season. Vaccination is recommended to be received by end of October.

People with severe egg allergies can receive any licensed flu vaccine but in a medical setting under the supervision of a health care provider who can recognize and manage severe allergic reactions.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) continues to recommend influenza vaccination for all children starting at 6 months of age except where medically contraindicated. The following are AAP updates for the current flu season:

1. Both inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) are recommended for children with no preference.

2. All pediatric influenza vaccines this year are quadrivalent vaccines. The age indication for some pediatric vaccines has been expanded; therefore, there are now four egg-based quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV4s) licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for administration to children 6 months and older, one inactivated cell-based quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (cIIV4) for children 4 years and older, and one quadrivalent live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV4) for children 2 years and older. No trivalent vaccines are expected to be available for children this season.

3. New formulations of licensed influenza vaccines with a volume of 0.5 mL per dose have been approved for children 6 through 36 months of age. Children 6 through 35 months of age may now receive either the 0.25- or 0.5-mL dose, with no preference, and children ≥36 months of age (3 years and older) continue to receive a 0.5-mL dose.

4. Children 6 months through 8 years of age who are receiving influenza vaccine for the first time or who have received only one dose before July 1, 2019, should receive 2 doses of influenza vaccine ideally by the end of October, and vaccines should be offered as soon as they become available. Children needing only one dose of influenza vaccine, regardless of age, should also receive vaccination ideally by the end of October.

5. A new antiviral medication has been licensed for treatment of influenza in children.