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What is Influenza?
Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is a virus which infects the nose, throat, and lungs. Contrary to popular belief, the flu is not related to what most people refer to as the stomach flu. Influenza does not affect the stomach or the intestines; however, the flu can cause severe illness and life-threatening complications in some people.
What is the Flu Vaccine?
There are 2 different types of flu vaccines: live attenuated and inactivated.
The live attenuated vaccine is a live, weakened flu virus that allows your body to seek and destroy the foreign virus. The body then remembers this foreign invader if later infected, and will rapidly attack any infection of similar appearance entering the body, either decreasing the severity of the illness or preventing it altogether. This live vaccine is available as a nasal spray that is inhaled. It is safe for use in healthy people ages 5 to 49 that are not pregnant.
The inactivated vaccine contains a killed flu virus that is administered through an injection, usually in the arm or thigh. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months old, including those with medical condi
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tions and those who are healthy.
When Should I get Vaccinated for the Flu?
Flu season can begin as early as October or November and may last through May. Some health care facilities, including physicians' offices and pharmacies, begin to get the new strain of vaccine in early October. It is preferable to get your vaccine sometime between October and November, but you may still receive a vaccination in December or later. The peak flu season in the U.S. can occur anywhere from late December through March, so it is advisable to be immunized prior to these months. Immunity from the virus develops over approximately 2 weeks after vaccine administration, and will provide protection from infection developing in the body.
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