Here Comes the Flu (Shot)!

It’s that time of year again and after last year’s scare with the Swine Flu (H1N1), people will want to be sure they are protected from the influenza virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the emergence last year of the H1N1 virus caused the first pandemic, or global outbreak, of a disease in 40 years. The discovery that young people and pregnant women were the ones that were hardest hit by the virus surprised most people and the struggle by drug companies to get an appropriate vaccine to the public didn’t help.

The CDC’s recommendation for flu prevention is to get a flu shot. Each year flu viruses are collected by over 130 national influenza centers in 101 countries. Research is conducted for months beforehand to determine the likelihood of particular flu strains becoming widespread and causing a significant amount of illness. Major health organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control, London’s National Institute for Medical Research, Australia’s Victoria Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, and Japan’s National Institute for Infectious Diseases, decide together which three viruses will be combined into the flu vaccine developed and distributed to clinics, doctors’ offices and drug stores. This three component virus vaccine, called a trivalent, is recommended by the WHO but each country then makes its own decision regarding which vaccine to use. 

Influenza (the flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk for serious flu complications. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

The 2011-2012 flu vaccine will protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the season. This includes an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus, and an influenza B virus.

Because different strains of the flu change over time, the development of a vaccine for a particular season isn’t an exact science. Scientists do their best to make the best match possible for that year. Most of the time, the match is pretty close. During the 2009-2010 flu season, the outbreak of the H1N1 occurred after the seasonal vaccine was developed, prompting the development of a vaccine specifically targeted to H1N1. During the past 20 years, most of the vaccines have been effective. The 1997-1998 season was a strong mismatch between the vaccine and circulating viruses, but this is not the norm.

The recommendation from the CDC is to get the flu vaccine as soon as it is available to provide the longest protection throughout the flu season which generally begins in the fall and is the strongest during January and February. Some good news is that even if the vaccine for a particular year isn’t a perfect match, the body’s immune response to the vaccine has a good chance of providing antibodies that will generalize to other strains of the flu. Well matched vaccines provide 70-90% effectiveness against the flu and provide the best prevention available for yourself, your family and your coworkers. Flu shots are available now at  ANY LAB TEST NOW®  for individuals and can be ordered for corporate flu prevention programs.

Flu shots are available now at  ANY LAB TEST NOW®  for individuals and can be ordered forcorporate flu prevention programs.