HEALTHY REASONING: Is The Flu Vaccine Effective?

By Allan Bucka Jones
PRIDE Health Columnist 

This is the holiday season, a time when there are large gatherings, a lot of touching, coughing and sneezing, and a time for more cases of the flu showing up, because the flu season has started. It’s also the time when we are being encouraged to take the flu vaccination.

For some individuals, there is reluctance to getting the flu vaccine. Some people still get the flu after receiving the vaccine, after not being ill with influenza for many previous years.

I raised this scenario with an infectious disease specialist, who indicated that it is very unlikely for someone to be affected by the strain or strains of virus protected against in the vaccine. He said it is quite likely the person got ill from a virus not protected against. Also, the person could be displaying symptoms for an illness that is not influenza.

The reality though, is that sometimes the vaccine prepared for a specific flu season, by the manufacturer, may not be designed to counteract the virus that is prominent and problematic at the time. Vaccines are made months before the start of the flu season, to deal with predicted viral activities during the flu season. So some years it is a correct fit, other times it is not.

Getting the vaccine is only one way to protect yourself from not getting the flu. Other approaches include, keeping your hands clean through frequent washing or using an alcohol based cleansing agent. Keep your hands away from your mouth and nose; avoid individuals that have the flu, and get adequate rest and sleep.

The influenza or flu season is an annual ritual. As the days get colder, there is a certain threshold of viral activity detected in the community, to cause health authorities to declare November to April as the flu season.

This is not a strict designated period, as the flu season can start by late October and extend into May. During this period there is increased possibility of developing influenza or the flu. Of course one can contract influenza at any time during the year. What does the flu look like?

The symptoms of the flu typically include the sudden onset of headache, chills, cough, fever, loss of appetite, myalgia, fatigue, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes and throat irritation. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also occur, especially in children.

The flu can cause serious health complications, particularly for children under five, and especially so in children under two, pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with underlying health conditions like chronic lung disease, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease and many other conditions.

Unless there is a medical reason not to get the flu vaccine, it is recommended that everyone six months of age and older, who lives, works or goes to school in Ontario, should receive protection against the flu through a free flu shot or vaccine available at doctors’ offices and at community and workplace flu immunization clinics.

At over 2,400 pharmacies across Ontario, there are pharmacists trained to administer the flu vaccine.

The flu shot builds up immunity, allowing individuals to be more resistant to the influenza virus. It can take two weeks to build up immunity, so it is important to get the flu shot every year and get it early, at the start of the flu season. However the flu vaccine can be taken at any time during the season.

This year, for the first time, children and youth 2 to 17 years old have the option to get the vaccine through a nasal spray for free. Children 5 years of age and older can get the nasal spray or flu shot at a participating pharmacy. Children aged 2 to 4 years old can get the nasal spray or flu shot only at a physician’s or nurse practitioner’s office, or participating public health units.

If you get ill with the flu stay home, if you have to cough, do so into your sleeve, avoid handshakes, and avoid sneezing without covering your nose and mouth.

Frequent hand washing goes a far way to slow the spread of the flu virus.

Allan Bucka Jones is a Health Promoter and Broadcaster. You can contact Allan Bucka Jones at allan@jonesandjones.ca.