Sunday, January 20, 2013
Does a flu shot cause the flu? Do healthy people need a shot? Here are the answers to some popular myths.
The flu vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family. However, misconceptions about vaccination persist. Here are seven common myths about the vaccination. Flu Myth #1 A Flu Shot Causes the Flu No, a flu shot cannot cause flu illness. The influenza viruses contained in a flu shot are inactivated (killed), which means they cannot cause infection. Flu vaccine manufacturers kill the viruses used in the vaccine during the process of making vaccine, and batches of flu vaccine are tested to make sure they are safe. In randomized, blinded studies, where some people get flu shots and others get salt-water shots, the only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
This year's vaccine has an overall effectiveness of 62 percent.
As many people have found out this year, getting a flu shot does not necessarily provide complete protection against the flu. During a Jan. 11 press briefing, Dr. Tom Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said this year's influenza vaccine has an overall effectiveness of 62 percent. "That means that if you got vaccinated you were about 60 percent less likely to get the flu that required you to go to your doctor," Frieden said according to a transcript of the briefing. "So what we have known for a long time is that the flu vaccine is far from perfect. But it's still by far the best tool we have to prevent the flu," he added. At 62 percent effectiveness, nearly four in 10 people who have been vaccinated …
Monday, January 7, 2013
CDC reports flu is widespread and continuing to increase.
Have you had your flu shot yet? It isn't too late according to the CDC. “Anyone who has not already been vaccinated should do so now,” said Dr. Joe Bresee of the CDC in a released statement. “And it’s important to remember that people who have severe influenza illness, or who are at high risk of serious influenza-related complications, should get treated with influenza antiviral medications if they get flu symptoms regardless of whether or not they got vaccinated. Also, you don’t need to wait for a positive laboratory test to start taking antivirals.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the flu is now widespread and the number of cases are continuing to increase. “Reports of influenza-like-illness (ILI) are nearing…
Eight employees at an Indiana hospital were recently fired after refusing to be vaccinated against the flu.
- OPINION
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Monday, January 7
Where do an employee's rights end? Is it reasonable to expect those employed in certain occupation submit to mandatory vaccinations? ABC News reports that eight employees at Indiana University Health Goshen Hospital were recently fired after refusing to participate in a mandatory vaccination program. The hospital maintains the flu shot requirement was implemented in the interest of patient safety. "IU Health's top priority is the health and wellbeing of our patients," said hospital spokeswoman Whitney Ertel in a released statement. "Participation in the annual Influenza Patient Safety Program is a condition of employment with IU Health for the health and safety of the patients that we serve, and is therefore required." The hospital employs…
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Here's where to get an influenza vaccine.
- LOCAL CONNECTIONS
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Thursday, December 13, 2012
Flu season is coming early in parts of the United States. Overall in Georgia, activity is considered intense now, while it was considered moderate at this time in 2011, according to Flu Trends. Flu Trends is a Google tool that uses aggregated search data to estimate flu activity. If you're considering getting a flu shot, you can find locations in Buford that offer flu shots by clicking here or by typing in your ZIP Code above. According to this week's CDC Flu activity report, influenza levels are on the increase across the country. Five states – Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee – are reporting flu rates not normally seen until January, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The flu season normally peaks in January …
Sunday, December 9, 2012
A similar flu virus struck during the 2003-2004 season, killing more than 48,000 people in one of the most lethal seasons in the past 35 years.
- NEWS
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Sunday, December 9, 2012
The 2012-2013 season is shaping up to be one of the worst flu seasons in a while, officials from the CDC said in a Dec. 3 teleconference. There have been a larger number of suspected flu cases than usual in five Southern states, and this year's strain may be more virulent. Already, two children have died of the illness. A similar flu virus struck during the 2003-2004 season, killing more than 48,000 people in one of the most lethal seasons in the past 35 years. Nevertheless, this year's vaccination appears to be better matched to the virus. "It looks like it's shaping up to be a bad flu season, but only time will tell," CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of…
