Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is influenza (“seasonal flu”)?
2. What is a flu pandemic?
3. What can I do to protect myself against both the seasonal flu and H1N1?
4. Who should get vaccinated?
5. Where can I get vaccinated?
6. Can I get both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines as the same time?
7. Is there a difference between the nasal spray vaccine and the injectable vaccine?
8. Since babies under 6 months cannot get either flu vaccine, what is the best way to prevent them from getting the flu?
1. What is influenza (“seasonal flu”)?
The seasonal flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It usually causes a mild to severe illness and, less commonly, can lead to death. The best way to prevent catching the flu is by getting a flu shot each fall. The flu season in the U.S. usually lasts from December through March. Every year in the United States, approximately 36,000 people die from seasonal flu-related complications.
The symptoms of flu include fever, headache, cough, sore throat, chills, and muscle aches. Some people, such as the elderly, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. These can include bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, or worsening of chronic conditions such as heart problems or diabetes. Children can also have gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, but these symptoms are uncommon in adults. Most people, however, recover from the seasonal flu within a two-week period.
2. What is a flu pandemic?
A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza A virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population. The virus becomes highly infectious and contagious in humans. It can spread easily from person to person, can cause serious illness and death, and can sweep across the country and around the world in a very short time.
H1N1 (swine flu)
On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the H1N1 influenza virus had become a global pandemic.
3. What can I do to protect myself against both the seasonal flu and H1N1?
Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent both seasonal and H1N1 flu, and it is important that you get vaccinated against both. The seasonal flu vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against novel H1N1 influenza. The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine — it is intended to be used alongside seasonal flu vaccine.
In addition to getting vaccinated, there are other steps you can take to protect yourself and help slow the spread of the virus.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an antiseptic alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Cover coughs and sneezes with tissues.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Throw used tissues in a wastebasket. Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve if you don’t have a tissue.
- Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing. Use soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Stay away from others as much as possible if they are sick. At least 6 feet away is the usual recommendation in crowded settings.
- Stay home from work and school if you are sick.
- Don’t shake hands with anyone who appears to be sick.
4. Who should get vaccinated?
The H1N1 influenza vaccine is recommended for:
- pregnant women;
- household contacts and caregivers for children younger than 6 months of age;
- health care and emergency medical services personnel;
- all people from 6 months through 24 years of age:
- Children from 6 months through 18 years of age;
- Young adults 19 through 24 years of age.
- persons 25 – 64 years of age who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.
Once the demand for vaccine for the above groups has been met, programs and providers will begin vaccinating everyone from 25 – 64 years of age. The risk for infection among persons age 65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups, according to recent studies. Once the vaccine demand among younger age groups has been met, programs and providers will offer vaccination to people 65 and older.
5. Where can I get vaccinated?
Refer to the Flu Vaccine Coverage Chart to find out where you should go to get the vaccines and to see what your plan covers.
If you have additional questions about your coverage, please call Customer Service at the number on the back of your ID card.
6. Can I get both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines as the same time?
Yes. The seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccines may be administered on the same day with one exception: you should not receive 2 nasal spray vaccines on the same day. You should wait three to four weeks between nasal spray vaccines. A vaccine shot and a vaccine nasal spray can be taken at the same time.
7. Is there a difference between the nasal spray vaccine and the injectable vaccine?
For each flu (seasonal and H1N1), there are two types of flu vaccines:
Seasonal flu vaccines:
- Injectable (shot) vaccine. The “flu shot” is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease).
- Nasal spray vaccine. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains attenuated (weakened) live viruses, and is administered by nasal sprayer. It is approved for use only among healthy people 2 – 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
H1N1 flu vaccines:
- Injectable (shot) vaccine. This an inactivated vaccine (vaccine that has killed virus in it) is injected into the muscle (usually the arm). The shot is approved for use among people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease).
- Nasal spray vaccine. The H1N1 nasal spray flu vaccine is a vaccine made with live, weakened viruses and is given through a nasal sprayer. This vaccine is recommended for use in healthy people 2 years to 49 years of age who are not pregnant.
8. Since babies younger than 6 months cannot get either flu vaccine, what is the best way to prevent them from getting the flu?
Because infants younger than 6 months cannot receive either the seasonal or H1N1 flu vaccines or antiviral drugs and they are at high-risk for serious flu-related complications it is very important that caregivers (for example, parents, teachers, babysitters, nannies) get vaccinated and that families take everyday actions to stay healthy:
- Get vaccinated
- A flu vaccine is the best way to protect against the flu.
- Infants younger than 6 months are at high risk for serious flu-related complications, but cannot get a vaccine or antiviral drugs.
- If you live with or care for an infant younger than 6 months of age, you should get a flu vaccine.
- A flu vaccine can protect you and your loved ones — including your infant — from the flu.
- This season, an increased supply of vaccine will be available so more people than ever can seek protection from the flu as soon as the vaccine becomes available.
- Take everyday preventive steps
- Certain everyday preventive steps like frequent hand washing and covering your cough can help keep germs from spreading.
- Protect yourself and your infant by following these steps routinely:
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze — throw the tissue away after you use it.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
- Keep yourself and your baby away from people who are sick, as much as you can.
- If you get the flu, stay home from work or school. If you are sick, do not go near other people so that you don’t make them sick too.
- Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs often spread this way.
- Take antiviral drugs if your doctor says you need them.
- There are antiviral drugs that can treat the flu or prevent infection by flu viruses.
- For treatment, antiviral drugs should be started within 48 hours of getting sick.
- For prevention, antiviral drugs are 70% to 90% effective in preventing infection.
- These drugs must be prescribed by a health care provider.
- If you develop flu-like symptoms (usually high fever, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches), or if you are exposed to the flu before you get a flu vaccine, your health care professional will decide whether you should take antiviral drugs.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
