Who should get a flu shot?
Experts say vaccination is the best way to protect against virus
By Marcy Horwitz CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Dr. Ghanshyam Barot at River's Bend Family Practice in Chester gives a flu shot.

One moment, you're fine and then suddenly, you feel just awful. There's fever. Chills. Muscle aches. Upper respiratory distress. It's the flu, and it isn't just an uncomfortable nuisance. For some people, especially the elderly, an attack of the flu can lead to pneumonia and potentially life-threatening complications.

A single flu shot can help you avoid all this misery. Flu shots aren't just for the very young or very old.

In some years, the vaccine's availability has been limited. This year, when there is plenty of vaccine on hand, experts agree - barring medical contraindications - just about everyone should get a flu shot.

Specifically, the shot is highly recommended for children ages 6 months-5 years; elderly people, especially those who live in group situations like assisted living facilities; first responders; pregnant women; adults ages 50 and above who have long-term heart, lung or kidney disease; those with chronic conditions like asthma - and anyone who lives in close contact with any of these target groups.

Ghanshyam Barot, M.D, a primary care physician with River's Bend Family Practice in Chester and a member of the medical staff of Southside Regional Medical Center, explains how the flu shot works.

"When we get an infection, the body's immune system builds antibodies to fight against it. The vaccine contains inactivated viruses." Because the shot causes a sub-clinical infection, recipients will not experience any of the disease's symptoms. The shot simply stimulates the body to build antibodies towards the killed virus.

Now is the ideal time to get the shot, says Sonia Shah-Pandya, M.D., a physician at St. Francis Medical Center. "The peak time for flu is December, January and February, and it takes two weeks to develop immunity," she says.

The Chesterfield County Health Department will offer a flu shot clinic on Nov. 14, says Mary Padgett, R.N., nursing supervisor for Chesterfield Public Health. Children can receive their vaccinations at regularly-scheduled children's clinics. For more information and reservations, call 768-7499.

Area grocery stores and pharmacies are also offering the shots, says Padgett. Visit the American Lung Association's Web site, www.flucliniclocator.org, to find vaccination clinics near you. Throughout the area, shots average $30. Vaccinations are free for those covered by Medicare/Part B.

Getting the shot may be your best defense against flu, but Padgett recommends that people take three more steps to protect themselves.

"Use good respiratory hygiene," she says. That means cover your cough.

"If you're sick, stay home." Don't go to work or send your sick kids to school.

Her final bit of advice is as effective as it is familiar: "Wash your hands."

Flu facts

What is influenza? Influenza is commonly referred to as "the flu." It is a viral infection of the lungs. There are two main types of influenza virus, A and B. Each type includes many diff erent strains that tend to change each year.

Who gets influenza? How is it spread? Anyone can get influenza, but it is most serious in the elderly, in people with chronic illnesses or those with weak immune systems. Influenza spreads very easily, usually through contact with droplets from the nose and throat of an infected person during coughing and sneezing.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear? What are the symptoms of influenza? Symptoms usually appear 1-3 days after exposure. Influenza symptoms can include a sudden onset of headache, fever, chills, cough, sore throat and body aches. Diarrhea and vomiting are not common. Although most people are ill for less than a week, some people have complications and may need to be hospitalized.

How is influenza diagnosed and treated? Some laboratory tests are available to diagnose influenza; however, doctors usually diagnose influenza from the person's symptoms. Rest, liquids and over-the-counter medicine (e.g., acetaminophen) are the usual treatments. Some prescription drugs may prevent or reduce the severity of influenza. Aspirin should not be given to children with influenza because of the possibility of causing a complication called Reye syndrome.

How long can a person spread influenza? The contagious period varies, but probably begins the day before symptoms appear and extends for a week.

Does past infection with influenza make a person immune? Generally, no. Influenza viruses change frequently, so people who have been infected or given a flu shot in previous years may become infected with a new strain. Therefore, people need to be vaccinated (with either a shot or a nasal-spray vaccine) against influenza every year.

What are other steps that can be taken to prevent the spread of flu? Good health habits can help prevent the flu. These include covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, washing your hands often to help protect yourself from germs, avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth, staying home from work, school and errands when you are sick, and avoiding close contact with people who are sick. Antiviral medications may also be used to prevent or treat the flu - talk to your health care provider for more information.

Source: Virginia Department of Health