as of September 3, 2010
You & the Flu
You & the Flu
The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year.
There are two types of vaccines:
The "flu shot" – an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use in people older than 6 months, including healthy people and people with chronic medical conditions.
The nasal-spray flu vaccine – a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "live attenuated influenza vaccine" or FluMist®). LAIV (FluMist®) is approved for use in healthy people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. Each vaccine contains three influenza viruses-one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus. The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists' estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.
Seasonal flu vaccines will not provide protection against 2009 H1N1 influenza (sometimes called swine flu). For more information about 2009 H1N1 vaccines go to www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
Click Here for More Information on Flu Shots and Who Should Get Them From the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention: www.cdc.gov/FLU/protect/keyfacts.htm