[ad_1]
Oct 23, 2020 9:00 AM
Author:
Kylene’s Butcher
Amid the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare professionals are unsure what the flu season will look like this year. Due to the similarity of symptoms, it can be difficult to differentiate between the flu and COVID-19 based solely on symptoms. What is known is that a flu vaccine exists and can potentially help protect you against serious complications.
Eleni Miller, DO, pediatrician at the University of Utah Health, answers questions about the flu and the flu vaccine.
What should the public know about flu vaccines?
Flu shots are safe. We have been giving children flu shots for a long time. They generally cause minimal side effects. Flu vaccines are not 100% effective, but they help reduce hospitalization rates and the severity of illness in both adults and children. Scientific data supports the fact that patients who have received a flu shot are less likely to become seriously ill if they get the flu.
Patients should also know that it is safe to go to a U of U Health clinic and get vaccinated. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have noticed that many families are nervous about bringing their children for medical care. Clinics and pediatricians are doing everything they can to keep families safe so they can get the flu vaccine and other childhood vaccines.
How can you tell the difference between influenza and COVID-19?
It will be difficult to tell the difference between the two viruses. I don’t think anyone can examine a patient and determine that it is definitely not COVID-19. In those situations, parents should seek advice from their pediatrician.
Can a child have COVID-19 and the flu at the same time?
It is definitely possible. Personally, I have not seen anyone with both viruses at the same time; however, you can get two other viruses at the same time.
Can the flu vaccine make people sick?
After a patient receives the influenza vaccine, their body is increasing an immune response to exposure to influenza virus antigens. That is what we want to happen. We want your immune system to work and protect you against the flu. This process can cause some mild symptoms such as headaches or body aches.
The other thing that could happen is that in the two weeks it takes for your body to develop immunity to the virus, you can get sick with the flu or another respiratory virus. During the flu season, we have many respiratory viruses, so it is very common for children and adults to contract other respiratory viruses at the same time.
Will masking help reduce the spread of influenza?
We don’t know exactly at this point until we get deeper into the flu season to see how it will unfold. There is a possibility that masking, hand hygiene, and physical distancing can help make this a better flu season. However, we should not lower our guard. We must continue with these methods and get vaccinated. It’s more important than ever to get a flu shot.
Do pregnant women need a flu shot?
Pregnant women should get a flu shot. When pregnant women get vaccinated, they pass antibodies to their babies, which provide protection when they are born. Babies cannot get a flu shot until they are six months old.
When is it safe for children to return to school after catching the flu?
Parents should follow current guidelines for how long to stay home after experiencing flu-like symptoms. Generally, people stop getting rid of flu-like symptoms after a week, but that doesn’t mean that everyone will follow those rules. Before COVID, pediatricians gave guidance that children can return to school after being fever-free for 24 hours. During these times, we must be more careful and ensure that children are completely symptom-free before returning to school.
How is the flu different from a stomach virus?
There are some viruses that cause gastrointestinal or stomach problems. Those symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. COVID-19 can cause these symptoms as well, but it is more common in adults. Children are more likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms with the flu than with COVID-19. It is best to talk to your doctor about these symptoms.
Is it true that getting vaccinated against influenza makes a person more susceptible to contracting other viruses?
That is not true. Your body is developing an immune response to the flu, but it does not weaken your immune system.
Is it important to get a flu shot every year?
It is important to get a flu shot year after year because there are different strains of flu that go into the vaccine. Every year researchers try to predict the predominant strains, and that is what they are putting into the vaccine. Those change every year, so it is important to get the vaccine every year.
Why is it better to get vaccinated against influenza than not to vaccinate if it does not protect you 100%?
There are A viruses and B viruses, and within those categories there are many different strains. We do not know what the predominant strains will be each year. Also, during the seasons, there is an A strain that is prominent, and other times there is a B strain that is more prominent. It all depends on what is the most prominent strain and what time of year the patient got the flu.
How effective is the flu vaccine?
Several studies have shown that the flu vaccine is 50% to 80% effective in keeping children out of the hospital.
Does the flu vaccine increase your risk of getting COVID-19?
No. It will only make you safer during the winter season.
Are there different types of flu vaccine deliveries?
There are two different ways to get a flu shot. You may receive the injection or the nasal vaccine. The flu vaccine is an activated vaccine, which means it is not alive. The one that enters your nose is weakened but alive. Children older than 2 years can receive the nasal vaccine, but there are some restrictions. Children with certain chronic medical problems should not receive the nasal vaccine. It is best to talk to your doctor to see if your child is eligible.
Are the flu vaccine and nasal vaccine equally effective?
In the past, pediatricians did not administer the nasal vaccine because it was thought to be not as effective. Since then there have been some improvements, so we hope it will be just as effective this year.
Where can someone get a flu shot?
Flu shots are available at all 12 U of U Health clinics. You can schedule an appointment here.
How soon should someone get a flu shot?
Now is the best time to get a flu shot. Our goal at U of U Health is to vaccinate the majority of our patients by the end of October. We give flu shots throughout the spring and into early summer.
When is the earliest time to get a flu shot?
The earliest is usually in early September.
How long does the flu vaccine last?
The flu shot usually lasts for five to six months and steadily tapers from there. The flu can last until spring, but we want to make sure patients get vaccinated before flu season begins.
Who is considered at high risk for influenza?
Children or adults with chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung problems. People with diabetes are at higher risk for complications if they get the flu. People who live or work with high-risk people should also get vaccinated.
