Re: Shouldn't we write this pediatrician?-Flu shot

[Guest guest]

I saw some Flu shot " commercial " on the news the other day (grr).

Here there also recommended it for children/people which are at risk

(see below).

But actually every Pharmamanufakturer states that only HEALTHY

individues should receive a vaccine. But everyone with asthma,

diabeties etc is not healthy at all.

Isn't this totally paradox?

tanja

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> From Other Guides

> • Flu Shots Important for People with Asthma

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> • Vaccine Information

> • Influenza Vaccine Information Statement

> • Prevention and Control of Influenza

> • Influenza Activity Update

> • Influenza

> • Flu Facts for Everyone

> • Weekly Flu Activity Report

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> Although most people understand the importance of a yearly flu

shot for people over the age of 65, many parents overlook the need

for a flu shot for their children.

> This is unfortunate, because most experts believe that flu

epidemics begin and spread to adults from younger children.

> This doesn't mean that all children should get flu shots, but if

your child is in one of the high risk groups mentioned below, or if

he has contact with someone in a high risk group, then you should

consider getting him a flu shot each year.

> Influenza Facts

> Influenza is a viral illness that can cause fever, cough, chills,

sore throat, headache and muscle aches, usually about 1-4 days after

being exposed to someone with the flu. Symptoms are usually mild to

moderate in most people, but can be more severe in the elderly or

very young children, causing thousands of deaths each year (mostly

elderly people).

> You can get the flu if:

> you are around someone with the flu that coughs or sneezes and the

germs enter your body through your mouth or nose

> you touch something, such as a door knob or sink faucet, that has

been touched and contaminated by someone with the flu, and you then

touch your own mouth or nose

> Unlike many other viruses, there actually are treatments for

influenza, but they must be started very early in the course of the

illness and usually within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. These

treatments include the medications amantadine (Symmetrel),

rimantadine (Flumadine), zanamivir (Relenza), and oseltamivir

(Tamiflu).

> Influenza Vaccine Facts

> The influenza vaccine, is an inactivated or killed vaccine, and is

changed each year to keep up with the most common strains of the

influenza virus that are circulating and most likely to cause

infections.

> The influenza vaccine is available for children over the age of

six months. To produce a good response, the first year that they get

it, children under nine years of age need two doses of the vaccine

given at least one month apart. Children over nine years and younger

children who have previously had a flu shot only need a single

injection each year.

> Vaccine side effects are usually mild, and may include soreness,

redness or swelling where the shot was given, fever, and/or aches,

and usually only last for 1-2 days. Children under 12 years should

receive the 'split virus' influenza shot, which is associated with

fever side effects than the 'whole virus' influenza vaccine.

Children over 12 years and adults can receive either the split virus

or whole virus influenza vaccine.

> More serious side effects can rarely include a life-threatening

allergic reaction.

> Who Should Get a Flu Shot

> The flu shot should be given to people who are at risk of getting

a serious case of influenza and their close contacts, including:

> everyone over the age of 65

> most adults between the ages of 50 and 64

> anyone, including children, with a serious long-term or chronic

health problem, including asthma, blood disorders, metabolic

disorders, such as diabetes, and/or heart, lung, or kidney disease

> anyone, including children, with a weakened immune system, such as

HIV/AIDS, or long term steroid or cancer treatment

> anyone children over 6 months of age on long-term aspirin

treatment, such as Kawasaki disease or rheumatoid arthritis

> women who will be past their 3rd month of pregnancy during flu

season

> Anyone else can get a flu shot if they want to reduce their

chances of getting the flu, especially students or other persons in

institutional settings, such as a dormitory.

> Because of delays in flu shot delivery this year, healthy people

should delay getting a flu shot until November or later so that high

risk people can get their flu shots first.

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> Questions and Answers about the Flu Vaccine

> How effective is the flu shot?

> The influenza vaccine is usually about 70-80% effective at

preventing your child from getting the flu. It may be less effective

if your child is exposed to a strain of the flu that wasn't included

in the flu shot that year. Also, the influenza vaccine only protects

against the flu virus, and offers no protection against other

viruses that can cause colds or flu-like illnesses, so the flu shot

won't prevent you from getting sick, it will only decrease the

chance that you will get the flu.

> Protection begins about two weeks after getting the flu shot, so

you should plan to get your child immunized at least two weeks

before the start of flu season, which in the United States, is

usually from November to March or April. You can still immunize your

child later in the flu season, but getting the shot early will offer

maximum protection.

> How else can I decrease my child's chances of getting the flu?

> In addition to a flu shot, some prescription flu medications,

including amantadine (Symmetrel), rimantadine (Flumadine) and

oseltamivir (Tamiflu - for patients over 13 years of age only), can

be used as prophylaxis to prevent you from getting the flu.

> You can also decrease your child's chances of getting the flu if

you:

> encourage strict handwashing, especially after using the bathroom

and before eating

> teach him to not to share glasses, cups or utensils, etc.

> avoid other people who are sick

> teach him to avoid touching his eyes or nose or putting things in

his mouth

> Can my child get the flu from the flu shot?

> No. You can not get the flu from the flu shot. The influenza

vaccine is made from killed vaccine particles and so can not cause

an influenza infection. Your child may develop side effects, such as

a fever or aches after getting a flu shot, but these mild reactions

shouldn't be confused with an influenza infection.

> My child is allergic to eggs. Can he still get a flu shot?

> Serious allergic reactions to egg proteins, including severe

anaphylatic reactions, are usually considered to be a reason to not

receive the influenza vaccine. The influenza vaccine is produced in

embryonated eggs, and so can sometimes cause a reaction in children

with egg protein allergies.

> Can I get a flu shot if I am breastfeeding?

> Yes. Breastfeeding is not a contraindication to getting a flu shot.

> Does the flu shot contain the preservative thimerosal?

> Yes. Although thimerosal has been removed from all routinely

recommended childhood vaccines, the flu vaccine does still contain

thimerosal. This is not necessarily a reason to not get your child

immunized though, especially if he is in a high risk group.

> What happened to the intra-nasal flu vaccine?

> FluMist, a nasal spray flu vaccine (no shots), has been shown to

be effective in children, but safety concerns led the FDA to not

approve it yet.

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