IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION

Make your health a priority. Receiving a seasonal flu shot each fall is one of the best ways to decrease your chances of getting the flu. Seasonal flu shots are a covered benefit for PacifiCare, A UnitedHealthcare Company, enrollees. An office visit co-payment or coinsurance may apply.

SCHEDULE YOUR SEASONAL FLU SHOT TODAY
In addition to your primary care physician or participating provider, PacifiCare, A UnitedHealthcare Company, enrollees may also receive their seasonal flu shot at select locations throughout the area.

To view the flu shot center listings, click here

WHO SHOULD GET VACCINATED
In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, it is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that certain people should get vaccinated each year. Mostly these are either people who are at high risk of having serious flu complications or people who live with or care for those at high risk for serious complications. During flu seasons when vaccine supplies are limited or delayed, ACIP makes recommendations regarding priority groups for vaccination.

If you have any questions about whether or not you should get a flu shot, please discuss with your primary care physician or participating provider.

INFLUENZA HIGH-RISK GROUPS
People who should get the seasonal vaccine each year are:

• Children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday
• Pregnant women
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

Persons Who Live With or Care for Persons at High Risk for Influenza-Related Complications including:

• Health care workers
• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
• Household contacts and caregivers of children < 5 years of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children < 6 months of age (these children are at higher risk of flu-related complications)

WHO SHOULD NOT BE VACCINATED
There are some people who should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. These include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.
• People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.
• Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group), and
• People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated).

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO GET A FLU SHOT
Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September or as soon as vaccine is available and continue throughout the influenza season, into December, January, and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.

INFLUENZA VACCINE
Question: How effective is the seasonal flu vaccine?
How well the seasonal flu vaccine works depends on how well the match is between the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine and the types of seasonal flu viruses that are circulating that year. Scientists try to predict what strains (types) of flu viruses are most likely to spread and cause illness each year to put into the vaccine. In years when the vaccine strains and the virus strains are well-matched, the vaccine can reduce the chances of getting the flu by 70%-90% in healthy adults. The vaccine may be somewhat less effective in elderly persons and very young children, but vaccination can still prevent serious complications from the flu.

In healthy adults less 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.

Question: Is the seasonal flu vaccine effective against all types of flu and cold viruses?
The seasonal flu vaccine is your best protection against seasonal flu viruses. However, this year there is a new and very different flu virus spreading worldwide among people called 2009 H1N1 flu. The seasonal flu vaccine will not provide protection against 2009 H1N1 influenza. A 2009 H1N1 vaccine is currently in production. The 2009 H1N1 vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine - it is intended to be used along-side seasonal flu vaccine.

The seasonal flu vaccine also does not provide protection against non-flu viruses that can cause colds and other respiratory illnesses. It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference between a cold and the flu based on symptoms alone.

The seasonal flu vaccine won't protect you from cold or flu viruses that are already in your body when you get a seasonal flu vaccine. The seasonal flu vaccine takes about two weeks to provide protection from the flu, and it's your best protection to prevent the most common types of flu this season.

Question: Can a flu shot give you the flu?
Inactivated influenza vaccine contains noninfectious killed viruses and cannot cause the flu.

HOW DO YOU GET THE FLU
The flu virus is primarily spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs. People can be infectious and spread the flu virus up to 1 day prior to noticing symptoms and 5 - 7 days after symptoms develop. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Flu symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Vomiting or Diarrhea
• Stomach pains (nausea)
• Extreme tiredness

In some cases the flu virus can be spread by touching things infected with the flu virus and then touching your nose, eyes, or mouth.

COMPLICATIONS OF THE FLU
Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

PREVENTING THE SEASONAL FLU
The best way to decrease your chances of getting the seasonal flu is to get a seasonal flu shot. In addition, good health habits can help prevent the spread of germs.

Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick. Throw the tissue away immediately.

Clean your hands.
Washing your hands with soap and warm water often will help protect you from germs.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
Washing your hands with soap and warm water often will help protect you from germs.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For more information on the current flu season, refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/ or by phone at
1-(800) 232-4636 (800-CDC-INFO) or 1-(888) 232-6348

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/habits.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/flushot.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr56e629a1.htm?s_cid=rr56e629a1_e

   PacifiCare is not affiliated with these Web sites.