Health center loses influenza vaccine supply as season nears

Half of U.S. vaccine supply made by British company Chiron recalled over health concerns

Richard Harkness / KRT Campus

*Editor’s note: Elon, and many other institutions around the nation, lost their supply of flu vaccine following the recall of millions of vaccinations. British health agencies said safety concerns prompted the recall of the product made by medical corporation Chiron.

It’s time for my annual influenza update.

The key message is to get your flu vaccination. Flu-related complications kill 36,000 people annually in the United States, so it’s good insurance.

A yearly shot is required because flu viruses can change fast. The current vaccine is based on these changes.

In case there might be a delay in vaccine availability, it’s recommended that high-risk individuals and people who might transmit the virus to them get a flu shot beginning in October, followed by the general population beginning in November.

High-risk groups include:

–Those over age 50.

–Residents of nursing homes and other such facilities.

–Adults and children over 6 months with asthma or other chronic heart or lung conditions.

–Adults and children over 6 months who need regular medical care due to conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, chronic kidney disease or a weakened immune system (caused by medication or HIV infection, etc.).

–Children and teenagers (6 months to 18-years-old) on long-term aspirin therapy. (Flu increases the risk for a serious condition called Reye syndrome in those taking aspirin.)

–All children 6 to 23 months old.

–Women who will be pregnant during the flu season (the previous recommendation was to hold the vaccination until after the first trimester).

–People who might transmit the flu to high-risk individuals (due to close contact) include:

–Doctors, nurses, and other employees in hospitals and medical clinics, including emergency response workers.

–Employees of nursing homes and chronic-care facilities who have contact with residents.

–Caretakers of high-risk individuals who live at home or in assisted living residences.

–Household contacts (including children) of persons in high-risk groups.

Additionally, vaccinating in-home and out-of-home contacts and caregivers of children under 6 months old might decrease the risk of flu infection in this vulnerable group, for whom the flu vaccine is not approved.

Who should not get a flu shot? Talk with your doctor if you:

–Are allergic to hen eggs (used in manufacturing the flu vaccine).

–Have had a severe reaction to the flu shot.

–Have previously developed Guillain-Barre syndrome shortly after getting a flu shot.

It should be emphasized that the flu shot vaccine is made with killed viruses and cannot cause the flu.

FluMist nasal spray, on the other hand, uses live but weakened flu viruses. It’s designed to cause a mild infection in the upper respiratory tract that stimulates the immune system to protect you against the flu.

FluMist is recommended as an alternative to the flu shot for healthy individuals 5 to 49 years old (but not pregnant women).

An important reminder: Get a pneumonia shot if you’ve never had one. It helps prevent bacterial pneumonia, which claims more lives than the flu each year. It can be given at the same time as the flu shot.