It's That Time of Year

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love the colors most I think. I love the oranges and browns and reds. For some reason it calms me. And thank goodness for that, because the season of fall brings with it the worry of kids getting sick, especially flu season.

In my household, we all get a flu shot (well my husband doesn't always...men...). I'm a big believer in vaccines, especially for our little James. He's already been battling allergies/cold for the past month. I've had to keep him hom from school a few days and we've been going through Allbuterol nebulizers like they're water! I luckily always get a flu vaccine at work and will be soon taking the boys into the pediatrician for theirs and hopefully will talk my husband into it too.

Here are some facts that I got from the CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

There are two types of vaccines:

The “flu shot” — an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.There are three different flu shots available:
a regular flu shot approved for people ages 6 months and older
a high-dose flu shot approved for people 65 and older, and
an intradermal flu shot approved for people 18 to 64 years of age.

The nasal-spray flu vaccine — a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that is given as a nasal spray (sometimes called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). The viruses in the nasal spray vaccine do not cause the flu. LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2 through 49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Seasonal flu vaccines protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The viruses in the vaccine can change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against the influenza viruses in the vaccine develop in the body. Information specific to the 2011-2012 season, including the vaccine formulation, can be found at 2011-2012 Flu Season.

When to Get Vaccinated

CDC recommends that people get their seasonal flu vaccine as soon as vaccine becomes available in their community. Vaccination before December is best since this timing ensures that protective antibodies are in place before flu activity is typically at its highest. CDC continues to encourage people to get vaccinated throughout the flu season, which can begin as early as October and last as late as May. Over the course of the flu season, many different influenza viruses can circulate at different times and in different places. As long as flu viruses are still spreading in the community, vaccination can provide protective benefit

How effective is the flu vaccine?

Inactivated influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) can vary from year to year and among different age and risk groups. In general, the highest VE is among young healthy adults and older children. Lower VE is reported for young children (e.g., those younger than 2 years of age), and older adults with only one randomized trial conducted in adults 60 years and older. VE also depends on the degree to which influenza vaccine viruses are well matched to circulating influenza viruses. Lower VE is expected in years when the match between circulating and vaccine viruses are suboptimal. VE also varies based on the outcome used, with generally the lowest VE estimates using non-influenza specific non-laboratory confirmed outcomes. The use of antibody seroconversion as a sole measure of VE may result in an overestimation of VE compared to other laboratory outcomes including viral culture and RT-PCR. CDC is currently reviewing recently published studies on VE to update existing estimates.
In healthy adults younger than 65 years of age, the flu vaccine can also prevent lost work days, and keep you from having to see the doctor or using unnecessary antibiotics.

How effective is the flu vaccine in children?

Because children younger than 5 years of age are at increased risk of severe flu illnesses, children 6-59 months and the household contacts and caregivers of children 0-59 months are recommended to get the flu vaccine every year. Children younger than 6 months of age are most at risk for having complications from the flu. However, they are too young to get the flu vaccine. To protect these infants, it is very important that their household members and out-of-home caregivers be vaccinated against the flu.
The flu vaccine can prevent 66% or more influenza infections in young children, with even higher estimates for older children, when the vaccine strains are well-matched to the flu viruses causing illness. Vaccinating close contacts of children can also help decrease children’s risk of getting the flu.
All children 6 months through 8 years of age are recommended to receive 2 doses of 2010-11 flu vaccine 4 or more weeks apart unless they have received:
at least 1 dose of 2009 H1N1 vaccine last flu season, and
at least 1 dose of seasonal vaccine prior to the 2009-2010 flu season or 2 doses of 2009-10 seasonal flu vaccine last flu season If a child has fulfilled both requirements, they only need 1 dose of the 2010-11 flu vaccine.
Studies have shown that two doses are needed in children younger than 9 the first year they are vaccinated in order to maximize the protective benefit from vaccination. Once you get vaccinated, your body makes protective antibodies in about two weeks. However, children younger than 9 years old who are being vaccinated for the first time need a second dose 4 or more weeks later in order to be protected.