Flu Shot information 2022/2023 |
Covid still seems to get the lion’s share of the attention, but the flu is not something that should be ignored. Influenza is one of the deadliest vaccine-preventable diseases. Each year, the flu kills more children in the United States than meningococcal infection and whooping cough combined. It can also lead to serious complications such as bacterial pneumonia, ear infections and sinus infections. It can worsen chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma or diabetes. The flu is no joke. Plus even a mild case can be completely miserable. The aches, the coughing, the chills, that horrible feeling that you don’t want to be touched…Nobody wants to get this. The covid pandemic actually made the last couple of flu seasons significantly lighter than average. When people avoid crowds, wear masks and wash their hands, things don’t spread as easily. As the world tries to move out of our pandemic existence, many people are relaxing that cautious behavior and moving towards a new normal. Might we see more flu activity because of that? News from the southern hemisphere would seem to indicate that the answer is yes. Based on what they have seen so far, experts are predicting that this year’s flu season could be early and severe. Your best protection is to get a flu shot! Getting the vaccine is not just about keeping you or your children from getting ill. It is also about minimizing spread within your family and community. It means protecting people who are vulnerable, including infants under 6 months who are too young to get the shot. In addition, flu vaccines can reduce the burden of flu illnesses and hospitalizations on our health care system. After the last several years, all of those health care workers need a break! Kids can start getting the flu shot at 6 months. If you have a baby at home who is too young to get vaccinated, please take extra care to make sure that all the household contacts are protected so that you don’t bring the virus home. Pregnant and nursing moms can and should get the shot. Anyone who is under the age of nine, and is getting the flu vaccine for the very first time, needs to receive two doses of the vaccine in order to be considered fully protected. The first dose “primes” the immune system; the second dose provides immune protection. The two doses need to be separated by at least four weeks. Over the years I have seen patients who have had only their first shot come down with the flu. One dose will not fully protect them. If your child has ever had more than two previous doses of any flu vaccine, they only need one this year. It takes about 2 weeks for the shot to take effect. For children aged 6 months through 35 months, flu vaccine dose volume is dependent on the product that is administered. Some brands require only half of the adult dose. Every year the disease trackers do the best they can to predict which strains of the virus will circulate and try to match the flu vaccine to the anticipated strain. Typically the vaccine changes from year to year. Some years have better matches than others. Even when they don’t get it exactly right, the shot seems to protect from more severe illness. For 2022-2023 the quadrivalent vaccines protect against two B strains and two A strains including H1N1 If you are pregnant or have young children, double check before you get the shot to make sure yours is preservative free. 93% of the supply this season is, so it shouldn’t be an issue. The flu mist is another option that is approved for healthy, non-pregnant people between the ages of 2-49 Since we never really know when the flu season will start with a vengeance, getting your child vaccinated early in the season is your best bet. As soon as a baby turns 6 months old you can get them started with their first dose since they need two doses to be fully protected. It does seem to vary a bit from year to year, but most of the time the reactions to the flu shot are quite mild. It is common to have a low grade fever and some soreness at the injection site. Remember that a day or two of aches and a bit of fever is still better than a full-blown case of the flu. If your child has a mild to moderate egg sensitivity it is still considered okay to get the standard shot. For folks with a known severe egg allergy, talk to your doctor about some new options that might be available. In any event it is a good idea to keep a close eye on your child for at least 30 minutes after the shot. If they seem to be having any breathing issues or exceptional fussiness they should get checked out immediately. It is impossible to predict possible delays and shortages with the supply. The safest way to prevent having an issue with a potential shortage is to get the shot in September or October. A mild illness does not affect how well the body responds to a vaccine, so a little cold is not a reason to put it off. Dr. Sophia Hurd, A UCSF physician at the Laurel Heights location says that the flu shot visit is a great time to get caught up on any other vaccines that your child might be missing.Their office has the flu vaccine in stock already and is giving it by appointment only. For frequently asked questions, here are a couple great resources from the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/flu/ https://www.cdc.gov/flu/ Tips for the immunization visit A little preparation ahead of time for either the flu mist or the shot can make a world of difference. The flu mist is a nice option for kids over 2, but to tell you the truth, getting a 2 or 3 year old to cooperate with something being squirted in their nose can be more of a challenge than the 2 seconds it takes to do the injection. If you can practice with a little saline in the nose at home, you will have a much better chance for success. If you can’t get them to do this in the safety and comfort of your home, save yourself the trouble of trying in the office and just opt for the shot. For the injection, get out the doctor's kit and do a little playing. There are also loads of little videos that you can watch in advance. I have one link here - Daniel Tiger gets a shot, but do some homework and see if you can find one that might resonate with your little one. Make sure you give appropriate choices, such as which arm they want the bandaid, or what kind of treat they might get. Dr. Hurd pops a gummy or piece of chocolate into her kids mouths right after the shots and they are a big fan. No fussing at all. Be clear that whether or not to get the shot is not one of the choices! When you go in for the appointment it is helpful if your child is wearing short sleeves or clothes that will allow them easy access. Perhaps bring an ice pack with you and give yourself a bit more time for some icing in advance. The shot usually doesn’t hurt too much but an ice pack gives some kids a little boost of confidence. You might also order a product called a Shot Blocker from Amazon and bring it with you. These little gizmos have helped a few of my ‘shot haters’ have an easier experience. I have found that there is no age limit to people who are terrified of shots. Some parents are so upset by the sight of a needle that they can’t be in the room when their kids get vaccinated. If you are one of those, see if you have the option of having a partner be the adult on duty. Wishing you all an influenza free year. Now go ahead and make an appointment! |
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