Urgent Care in Gaithersburg & College Park/Beltsville, Maryland
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About the 2011-2012 Flu Vaccine

The 3 viruses selected for the flu shot this year are the same viruses that were selected for last year's flu shot, as they were determined to be the main viruses causing worldwide illness.  Even though the composition of the flu shot this year is the same as last year, it is still important to get the flu shot yearly, since your body's immunity to the viruses will have declined over the past year.  The influenza shot can protect you from getting sick from one of these 3 viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get sick from another influenza virus strain.

Because it takes about 2 weeks after you receive the shot for your body to produce enough antibodies to prevent you from getting influenza if you are exposed to it, you should get the influenza shot as soon as it is available in the fall.  Peak influenza season is usually in February, but influenza seasons are somewhat unpredictable, and influenza epidemics can begin as early as October.  The CDC recommends people be vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available in order to ensure as many people as possible are protected prior to the onset of the usual flu season (fall to spring).  Even if you don't get around to getting a flu shot early, you could still get benefit from the shot anytime during the flu season.

How do I know if I have the flu?

You may have the flu if you have some or all of these symptoms:

• fever
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• body aches
• headache
• chills
• fatigue
• sometimes diarrhea and vomiting

What should I do if I get sick?

If you get sick with flu-like symptoms this flu season, you should stay home and avoid contact with other people except to get medical care. Most people with season flu have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs.

However, some people are more likely to get flu complications and they should talk to a health care provider about whether they need to be examined if they get flu symptoms this season. They are:

• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• People 65 and older
• Pregnant women
• People who have:
  
  • Cancer
  • Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
  • Chronic lung disease [including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)]
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Kidney disorders
  • Liver disorders
  • Neurological disorders (including nervous system, brain or spinal cord)
  • Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis)
  • Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)

Also, it’s possible for healthy people to develop severe illness from the flu so anyone concerned about their illness should consult a health care provider.

There are emergency warning signs. Anyone who has them should get medical care right away.

What are the emergency warning signs?

In children:

• Fast breathing or trouble breathing
• Bluish skin color
• Not drinking enough fluids
• Not waking up or not interacting
• Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
• Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
• Fever with a rash

In adults:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
• Sudden dizziness
• Confusion
• Severe or persistent vomiting

Are there medicines to treat strains like H1N1?

Yes. There are drugs your doctor may prescribe for treating both seasonal, H1N1, or other strains of flu called “antiviral drugs,”  like Tamiflu and Relenza. These drugs can make you better faster and may also prevent serious complications. Your health care provider will decide whether antiviral drugs are needed to treat your illness.

How long should I stay home if I’m sick?

CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other things you have to do and no one else can do for you. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine, such as Tylenol®.) You should stay home from work, school, travel, shopping, social events, and public gatherings.