The flu shot -- vaccination information

You wake up but can't get out of bed. You have a high fever, a severe headache, sudden chills, a cough, aches and pains all over your body -- even your eyes are sore. You have the flu. Could you have avoided this by rolling up your sleeve and getting a flu shot?

As winter approaches, so do those influenza strains -- and they can be deadly. 500 to 1,500 Canadians (usually the elderly and people with weak immune systems) will die annually from complications due to influenza infection.

So what's the best defence? A simple vaccination: The flu shot.

Because flu strains change from one year to the next, annual immunization is key. The vaccine is created with dead viruses of the strains the World Health Organization considers the most virulent for that season. And no, you can't get the flu from the shot.

Flu shot side effects
"Any drug, any vaccine, any medical product can have side effects," says Dr. Ian Gemmill, chair of the Canadian Coalition for Influenza Immunization. "You may have a day or two of mild fever and you get some local pain because you just had a needle stuck in your arm, but to get the severe symptoms of the flu, it's impossible."

Who should get the flu shot?
Everyone six months and older should be immunized, but those in most need include people over age 65, anyone with chronic medical conditions (heart disease, lung disease) or at high risk of complications (people with diabetes or asthma), and anyone in close proximity to these groups, including health-care workers, nursing-home residents and family members.

The flu shot is safe for women who are pregnant or nursing. Some U.S. studies have even found that vaccination may reduce complications during pregnancy, says Dr. Gemmill.

Page 1 of 2: Who should not get the flu shot? When to get the flu shot and what to do if you have the flu

Who should not get the flu shot?
People with a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine or to eggs, where the vaccine is prepared, should not be immunized. Those with an acute illness, such as pneumonia, may be best to postpone the vaccination, adds Dr. Gemmill.

When should you get the flu shot?
With flu season spanning October to April, it's best to get your flu shot -- which lasts six months to a year -- as early as possible. A flu shot costs about $10 to $15, though it may be free depending on need or if you live in Ontario.

The vaccination is 70 to 90 per cent effective in healthy adults, but protecting yourself or lessening symptoms depends not only on your vaccination but of those around you. There's a reason why influenza attacks in winter -- everyone is indoors and in closer contact, making it easy for the virus to spread. It moves through air as well as touch, so wash hands frequently.

What should you do if you have the flu?
If you come down with the flu, get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluids, and take Aspirin or ASA to reduce fever. Antiviral drugs, such as amantadine, can reduce the length and severity of the flu. Symptoms should pass in a week or two, with some lingering weakness or fatigue.

Don't have time for the flu? You're not alone. "If you're in the work force and you have a family, you can't afford to be sick," adds Dr. Gemmill. "For all the people in that position, it's a modest expenditure to get the vaccine. It's safe, it's effective and it's the longest lasting protection anyone can offer against influenza."

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