What is influenza?

Influenza is a common virus which causes “flu”. The influenza season runs from December to March every year. 10-20 people out of every 100 will get influenza this year. Influenza is the classic “flu” virus which attacks the nose, throat, and lungs. It starts with runny nose, cough and sore throat and leads to more severe symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, and muscle aches. Fatigue and cough may last up to 2 weeks. Many people do not realize that influenza can also have serious complications in a small number of children who contract it including pneumonia, bronchiolitis, and rarely death.

What treatments are available for influenza?

There are not many good treatments for influenza and that’s why it is best to get vaccinated. All of the treatments must be started within 2 days of symptoms in order to work. Tamiflu is a pill or syrup which is taken twice daily for 5 days. Relenza is an inhaler that is taken twice daily for 5 days. Relenza should not be taken by people with asthma. These treatments make you feel slightly better, but don’t make the illness go away.

Who should get the influenza vaccine?

Children:

• less than 2 years old
• who were premature babies
• who have asthma or other lung disease
• who have heart disease
• who have HIV or a weakened immune system from other causes
• who have sickle cell disease
• who have kidney disease
• who have diabetes or other chronic diseases
• who take aspirin on a daily basis (children on aspirin are at risk for a complication of influenza called Reye syndrome)

These children are at high risk for complications from influenza infection and should receive the influenza vaccine every year. Children less than 6 months are too young to receive the influenza vaccine. The best way to protect the youngest infants is for other family members to get immunized.

Who should not get the influenza vaccine?

Any child who is allergic to eggs or chicken should not get the influenza vaccine. A child who has had an allergic reaction to a previous influenza vaccine should also not receive the vaccine again.

When is the influenza vaccine given?

To protect your child best against the influenza virus, the vaccine should be given between October and December. Pediatric Healthcare’s influenza vaccine will be available beginning in October. We will continue to give vaccine until our supply runs out.

If my child received the influenza vaccine last year, why does he need it again?

The strain of influenza changes every year, so children need to be vaccinated every year. If this is the first time your child is getting influenza vaccine, children who are less than 8 years old will need two shots given one month apart. After the first year, they will need only one shot each year.

Nasal influenza vaccine

You may have heard about a new influenza vaccine called Flumist which is a spray given in the nose. Flumist can only be given to children older than 5 years who are healthy (that is: do not have asthma or any of the other problems listed above). Most insurance plans will probably not cover Flumist this year, so you would be required to pay for Flumist out of your own pocket. One dose costs $60. Most insurance will cover the injectable influenza vaccine.

What are the side effects of influenza vaccine?

The injectable influenza vaccine may cause local swelling/pain and occasionally fever. These can both be relieved by giving your child Tylenol every 4 hours for one day after the vaccine is given. The vaccine does not contain live influenza virus and cannot give you “flu.”

The nasal influenza vaccine does contain live influenza virus and can give you “flu” like symptoms (runny nose/sore throat/low fever), but these will be less severe than getting influenza naturally.