Learn a lot about the flu shot

By DR. DAN BRENNAN — Nov. 13, 2009

If you are a parent, you have probably been thinking about flu vaccines. What type of vaccine should your child receive? A nasal spray or a shot? Preservative-free? Seasonal flu vaccine, H1N1 or both? Where can you even get one? So many questions and now so many answers.

H1N1 vs. Seasonal flu?

If you know someone who currently has flu-like symptoms, including cough, fever and aches, chances are they have the H1N1 flu. Over the last several weeks, local health officials have noted an increase in flu-like illness. Statistics indicate that close to 95% of influenza cases are currently H1N1, rather than the seasonal flu that normally comes later in the season.

Due to the late emergence of H1N1 in the spring of 2009, scientists were unable to incorporate H1N1 virus protection into this year’s seasonal flu vaccine. As a result, separate H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines are being offered this year.

What types of flu vaccines are available?

Two basic types of flu vaccine are currently available in the United States. One notable difference is in the way the vaccines are administered.

FluMist is a nasal spray vaccine that is gently sprayed into each nostril. It consists of a live, but weakened flu virus that will not cause a patient to develop influenza. It is approved for healthy people between the ages of 2 and 49 years of age, but cannot be given to pregnant women or people with certain chronic health conditions.

The traditional flu shot is administered by intramuscular injection. This vaccine contains an inactivated (killed) virus and can safely be administered to children as young as 6 months of age and pregnant women. People with a severe egg allergy and certain neurologic conditions may not be eligible to receive this vaccine.

This year, both the H1N1 and seasonal flu vaccines can be found in FluMist and injectable forms.

Are there preservatives in flu vaccines?

The traditional injectable flu vaccine that comes in a multi-use vial has a preservative added to prevent the vial from becoming contaminated with bacteria each time a needle is inserted to withdraw a dose.

Flu vaccine produced in single-use syringes can be made “preservative-free.” This vaccine is generally made for children under 3 years of age and pregnant women. Since this vaccine is made in individual doses, it is more expensive to produce and harder to find.

While many parents are concerned about the presence of a trace amount of mercury found in a preservative-containing flu vaccine, a dose for a child under 3 years has the same amount of mercury as a 4 ounce serving of fish, while an adult dose has the equivalent of an 8 ounce serving of fish. The nasal mist vaccine contains no mercury-containing preservative.

Is it too late to get the flu vaccines?

This year, the seasonal flu vaccine was released earlier than usual to make way for the H1N1 vaccine. While many doctors’ offices and pharmacies are running low on seasonal flu vaccine, we are optimistic that more will be available later this year. Since seasonal flu doesn’t typically arrive this early, people should not panic if they have not yet received their seasonal flu vaccine yet this year.

Given the rise of H1N1 virus in our community, the health department and physicians are working tirelessly to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to high-risk individuals. It is hoped that over the next couple of weeks, more vaccine will be available to those who want it.

Where can I get my flu vaccines?

The health department will continue to offer community flu clinics to distribute the H1N1 vaccine. Since the health department is becoming more experienced and efficient at administering the vaccine, the bulk of H1N1 vaccine will now be offered at these clinics. Recent flu clinics have had wait times of less than thirty minutes.

Many physician offices have long wait lists of patients who desire an H1N1 vaccine. Since most H1N1 vaccine will be set aside for the community clinics, it may be wise to skip your doctor’s wait list and attend a community flu clinic. To locate upcoming community flu clinics, visit www.sbcfluinfo.org, or contact your doctor for more information.

Which vaccine is best?

At this time, H1N1 is prevalent in our community and it appears to disproportionately affect young children and pregnant women. Receiving any one of the appropriate H1N1 vaccines is better than not receiving any H1N1 vaccine, even if this means than an infant or pregnant woman receive a preservative-containing vaccine.

The H1N1 vaccines are made exactly the same way that traditional flu vaccines are made, except they provide specific protection against the H1N1 virus. These vaccines are safe and I highly recommend that my pediatric patients receive both the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines this year. I also recommend deleting the bogus emails circulating around cyberspace and in your email inbox.

Both the seasonal flu and H1N1 vaccines should be more available over the next weeks and months. If you have not yet received yours, it is not time to panic. Instead, please consult with your physician or the health department to discuss your risk factors and where you might be able to receive your vaccine.

Stay well.

Dr. Dan Brennan is a board certified pediatrician and Santa Barbara native. His column can be found on alternating Fridays in the Daily Sound. To contact Dr. Brennan, please call 563-6211 or visit www.SBPediatrics.com.

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Deep breaths : 11/14/2009

Thank you Dr. Dan for your continued vigilance on keeping us informed. This flu season terrifies me, being a mom of an "at risk" kid.

Snowmama

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