General Questions About Influenza | University of Utah Health

October 23, 2020 9:00 am

Author:
Killen Butcher

In the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, medical professionals are uncertain about what the flu season will be this year. Due to the similar symptoms, it may be difficult to distinguish between influenza and COVID-19 by symptoms alone. What is known is that there is a flu vaccine that can help protect you from serious complications.

Eleni Miller, DOAnswer questions about influenza and influenza vaccines, a pediatrician at the University of Utah.

What should the general public know about flu shots?

Influenza vaccination is safe. We have been vaccinated against influenza for a long time. They generally cause very minimal side effects. Influenza vaccination is not 100% effective, but it helps reduce hospitalization rates and illness severity in both adults and children. Scientific data support the fact that patients vaccinated against the flu are less likely to become seriously ill if they get the flu.

Patients also need to know that it is safe to come University of Utah Health Clinic Get the vaccine. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have noticed that many families have become nervous about getting medical care with their children. Clinics and pediatricians do everything they can to keep their families safe, so they can get the flu vaccine and other children’s vaccinations.

How do you tell the difference between influenza and COVID-19?

It will be difficult to tell the difference between the two viruses. I don’t think anyone can see a patient and determine that it is not COVID-19. In such situations, parents should contact the pediatrician for advice.

Can a child have COVID-19 and influenza at the same time?

It’s definitely possible. Personally, I have never seen anyone with both viruses at the same time. However, it is possible to get two other viruses at the same time.

Can flu shots make people sick?

After patients have been vaccinated against the flu, their bodies have increased their immune response to exposure to antigens from the flu virus. That’s what we want. We want your immune system to work and protect you from the flu. This process can cause mild symptoms such as body pain and headaches.

Another possibility is that in the two weeks it takes the body to develop immunity to the virus, it can become ill with the flu and other respiratory viruses. Due to the large number of respiratory viruses that occur during the flu season, it is very common for children and adults to be infected with other respiratory viruses at the same time.

Does masking help reduce the spread of influenza?

At this point, we don’t know exactly until we see how the flu season spreads. Masking, hand hygiene, and physical distance can help make this a better flu season. But don’t let the guards down. You should continue these methods and be vaccinated. Getting the flu vaccine is more important than ever.

Do pregnant women need to be vaccinated against the flu?

Pregnant women need to be vaccinated against the flu. When pregnant women are vaccinated, they pass antibodies to their babies. And it gives them protection when they are born. Babies cannot be vaccinated against the flu until they are 6 months old.

When is it safe for children to return to school after getting the flu?

Parents should follow current guidelines for how long they will stay at home after experiencing flu-like symptoms. In general, people stop getting rid of flu-like symptoms after a week, but that doesn’t mean that everyone intends to follow those rules. A pre-COVID pediatrician instructed the child to return to school after having had no fever for 24 hours. In these times, you need to be more careful and make sure your children are completely asymptomatic before returning to school.

How do you distinguish between flu and stomach bugs?

There are several viruses that cause GI (gastrointestinal) or stomach bugs. These symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting. COVID-19 can also cause these symptoms, but it is common in adults. Children are more likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms with the flu than COVID-19. It is best to talk to your doctor about these symptoms.

Is it true that flu vaccination makes you more susceptible to other viruses?

That is not true. Your body boosts your immune response to the flu, but it does not weaken your immune system.

Is it important to get a flu shot every year?

There are many different strains of influenza vaccinated, so it is important to be vaccinated against influenza each year. Every year, researchers try to predict the predominant strain, which is what they put in the vaccine. It is important to get vaccinated every year as they change every year.

Why is it better to get a flu shot than not to get a flu shot when it is not 100% protected?

There are A and B viruses, and there are many different strains within those categories. We do not know what will happen to the predominant strains each year. In addition, A-shares stand out depending on the season, and B-shares stand out at other times. It all depends on what the most prominent strain is and when the patient got the flu.

How effective is a flu shot?

Some studies have shown that flu shots are effective in the range of 50% to 80% to keep children away from the hospital.

Do influenza vaccines increase the risk of getting COVID-19?

No. Only safe during the winter season.

Are there different types of influenza vaccination?

There are two ways to get the flu vaccine. You can get a shot or nasal vaccine. Influenza vaccination is an activated vaccine, which means it is not alive. What goes into your nose is weak but alive. Children over the age of 2 can be vaccinated against the nose, but there are some restrictions. Children with certain chronic medical problems should not be vaccinated against the nasal vaccine. It is best to consult your doctor to see if your child is eligible.

Are both flu shots and nasal vaccines equally effective?

In the past, pediatricians did not get a nasal vaccine because it was thought to be ineffective. Since then, some improvements have been seen, so we can expect the same effect this year.

Where can I get a flu shot?

Influenza vaccination is available at all health courses at the University of Utah. 12 clinics..You can schedule an appointment here..

When will someone be vaccinated against the flu?

Now is the best time to get the flu vaccine. Our goal at U of U Health is to vaccinate the majority of patients by the end of October. Influenza vaccination will be given from spring to early summer.

When is the earliest time to get the flu vaccine?

The earliest is usually early September.

How long will the flu vaccine last?

Influenza vaccines generally last 5 to 6 months and then steadily decline. The flu can last until spring, but we want to make sure patients are vaccinated before the flu season begins.

Who is considered to be at high risk for the flu?

Children or adults with chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung problems. People with diabetes are at increased risk of complications if they get the flu. People who live or work with high-risk people also need to be vaccinated.