It's flu-shot season already, and for the first time health authorities are urging nearly everyone to get vaccinated. There is even a new high-dose version for people 65 or older.
What a difference a year makes: Crowds lined up for hours for scarce shots during last fall's swine flu pandemic, when infections peaked well before enough vaccine could be produced. This year, a record vaccine supply is expected — an all-in-one inoculation that now promises protection against that swine flu strain plus two other kinds of influenza.
Shipments began so early that drugstores are offering vaccinations amid their back-to-school sales.
But without last year's scare factor, the question is how many people will heed the new policy for near-universal vaccination. No more stopping to check if you're on a high-risk list: A yearly dose is recommended for virtually everyone except babies younger than 6 months — the shot isn't approved for tots that young — and people with severe allergies to the eggs used to brew it.
"Influenza is serious, and anyone, including healthy people, can get the flu and spread the flu," said Dr. Anne Schuchat of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and those around you."
Influenza, commonly referred to as the “flu” is a viral infectious disease caused by the RNA family of
viruses. While many people label several influenza-like illnesses (colds and stomach viruses) as “flu”,
true influenza produces much more severe, serious and protracted symptoms. The most common of
these include chills, fever, sore throat, coughing, headache, muscle pain and overall discomfort. In
extreme cases, influenza can cause pneumonia which is of particular concern in the very young and the elderly.
Influenza viruses can be inactivated by detergents, disinfectants and soap, therefore, frequent hand washing is advocated.
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